Shloka 15

Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha

Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context

Devanagari script

गच्छन्नेव स धर्मात्मा समुद्रं सरितां पतिम्‌

Transliteration

gacchann eva sa dharmātmā samudraṃ saritāṃ patim

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: As he continued on his way, that righteous-souled man proceeded toward the ocean, the lord of rivers, moving forward with steadfast purpose in keeping with dharma.

Word by Word

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (गच्छ्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त, परस्मैपदी)

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (स)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled (one)
• धर्मात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समुद्रम्: the ocean
• समुद्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सरिताम्: of rivers
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पतिम्: lord/master
• पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• samudra (the ocean)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharma as an inner disposition: a dharmātmā advances with steady resolve toward his goal, suggesting that righteous character guides action even amid larger events.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator states that a righteous person is continuing his journey and is heading toward the ocean, described poetically as the lord of rivers.