Shloka 55

Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections

Devanagari script

यथा त्वया महाभागे मदर्थ संशितव्रते । विशेषो हि त्वया भद्ठे व्रते ह्स्मिन्‌ समर्पित:

Transliteration

yathā tvayā mahābhāge mad-arthaṁ saṁśita-vrate | viśeṣo hi tvayā bhadre vrate ’smin samarpitaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O fortunate lady, steadfast in a rigorous vow—just as you undertook austerity for my sake, so too did the pure-hearted goddess Arundhatī attain the highest perfection here. O gentle one, in this observance you have shown a special measure of self-surrender.”

Word by Word

• {'yathā': 'just as

• in the manner that', 'tvayā': 'by you', 'mahābhāge': 'O greatly fortunate/noble lady', 'mad-artham': 'for my sake

• on my account', 'saṁśita-vrate': 'firm/steadfast in vow

• one whose vow is well-resolved', 'viśeṣaḥ': 'special distinction

• exceptional feature', 'hi': 'indeed

• for', 'bhadre': 'O auspicious/gentle lady (vocative of address)', 'vrate': 'in the vow/observance', 'asmin': 'in this', 'samarpitaḥ': 'offered

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arundhatī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that the power of a vow (vrata) is intensified by steadfastness and self-surrender (samarpana). Ethical discipline is not merely external practice; it becomes spiritually efficacious when dedicated with wholehearted intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana addresses a noble woman who has undertaken a rigorous observance for his sake, praising her exceptional dedication. He cites Arundhatī as an exemplar who attained supreme success through such purity and commitment, thereby validating the woman’s practice.