Shloka 356
Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections
अनावृष्टिरनुप्राप्ता तदा द्वादशवार्षिकी | “जीविकाकी इच्छासे जब वे हिमालयके वनमें निवास करते थे, उन्हीं दिनों बारह वर्षोतक इस देशमें वर्षा ही नहीं हुई
anāvṛṣṭir anuprāptā tadā dvādaśavārṣikī |
Vaiśampāyana said: At that time a drought set in—one that lasted twelve years. In the days when they dwelt in the forests of the Himālaya seeking livelihood, this land received no rain for twelve full years. Long deprived of water, the country fell into scarcity, reminding all that livelihood and social order rest upon nature’s balance and upon the responsible conduct of rulers and communities in times of calamity.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how prolonged natural imbalance (drought) threatens livelihood and societal stability, implicitly calling for dharmic leadership and communal responsibility during crises.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana reports that a twelve-year drought occurred at that time, setting the background of severe scarcity.