Shloka 68
Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections
तपस्याके धनी धर्मात्मा महामुनि भरद्वाजने उसके जातकर्म आदि सब संस्कार करके देवर्षियोंकी सभामें उसका नाम श्रुतावती रख दिया। फिर वे उस कन्याको अपने आश्रममें रखकर हिमालयके जंगलमें चले गये थे ।।
tatrāpy upaspṛśya mahānubhāvo vasūni dattvā ca mahādvijebhyaḥ | jagāma tīrthaṃ susamāhitātmā śakrasya vṛṣṇipravaras tadānīm ||
The righteous great sage Bharadvāja performed all the sacraments beginning with the jātakarma, and in the assembly of divine seers he named her “Śrutāvatī.” Then, leaving the maiden in his own hermitage, he went to the Himalayan forests. There too, the illustrious Balarāma—the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis—bathed according to rite and bestowed wealth upon eminent Brahmins; and with mind well-collected, he departed at that time for Śakra’s sacred ford, Indra-tīrtha.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic steadiness: ritual purity, mental composure, and charitable giving to worthy recipients are upheld as righteous duties even during turbulent times.
Baladeva (the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis) bathes at a sacred place, donates wealth to eminent Brahmins, and then proceeds onward to Indra’s sacred ford (Śakra/Indra-tīrtha) with a focused mind.