Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 52

Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative

Devanagari script

ततो यज्ञोपवीतैस्ते तत्तीर्थ निर्मिमाय वै | जुह॒वुश्चाग्निहात्रांश्व चक्रुश्न विविधा: क्रिया:

Transliteration

tato yajñopavītaiḥ te tat-tīrthaṃ nirmimāya vai | juhuvuś cāgnihotrāṃś ca cakruś ca vividhāḥ kriyāḥ |

Translation

Then, using their sacred threads, they duly established that holy ford (tīrtha). There they offered the oblations prescribed for the Agnihotra and performed various other ritual acts.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• यज्ञोपवीतैः: with sacred threads
• यज्ञोपवीतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञोपवीत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage-place; sacred ford
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• निर्मिमाय: made, constructed
• Type: Verb
• Root: मा (मिमाते/मिमीते) / मि (माने) → मिमाय (परस्मैपद-परिणामः)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• जुहुवुः: they offered (oblations)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (जुहोति)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अग्निहोत्रान्: Agnihotra offerings/rites
• अग्निहोत्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• चक्रुः: they performed, did
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (करोति)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• नानाविधाः: various kinds of
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नानाविध
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• क्रियाः: rites, acts, ceremonies
• क्रियाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• यज्ञोपवीत (yajñopavīta)
• तीर्थ (tīrtha)
• अग्निहोत्र (Agnihotra)
• अग्नि (sacred fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in turbulent times, the epic highlights a return to dharma through disciplined ritual life—Agnihotra and related rites function as acts of purification, restraint, and reaffirmation of sacred order.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator states that the group established a tīrtha and then performed Agnihotra oblations along with other ritual observances, indicating a formal religious undertaking at that sacred spot.