Shloka 41

Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha

Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context

Devanagari script

।। आरुहा च गवां लोकं प्रयातो ब्रह्म॒सत्रिणाम्‌

Transliteration

ārūhā ca gavāṁ lokaṁ prayāto brahmasatriṇām

Translation

And having ascended to the world of cattle—an auspicious heavenly realm—he departed to the sphere of the Brahma-sacrificers, those devoted to prolonged Vedic rites. The narration underscores that steadfast ritual discipline and meritorious conduct are believed to lead to exalted posthumous attainments.

Word by Word

• आरुह्य: having ascended
• आरुह्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

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

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: feminine, genitive, plural

• लोकम्: world/realm
• लोकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• प्रयातः: departed/went forth
• प्रयातः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used actively), masculine, nominative, singular

• ब्रह्मसत्रिणाम्: of the performers of a brahma-satra (a long sacrificial session)
• ब्रह्मसत्रिणाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मसत्रिन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• gavāṁ loka (world/realm of cattle)
• brahmasatriṇaḥ (Brahma-sacrificers; performers of brahma-satra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a traditional Mahābhārata ethic: disciplined adherence to dharma—especially through sustained Vedic rites and meritorious living—is associated with attaining higher realms after death.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana states that the person being described has 'ascended' to the gavām-loka and then 'departed' to the domain of the brahma-satrins, indicating a posthumous transition to auspicious worlds linked with ritual merit.