Shloka 69
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
धर्मात्मा जैगीषव्य तथा असितमुनिका ऐसा ही प्रभाव था। उन दोनों महात्माओंका यह श्रेष्ठ स्थान ही तीर्थ है ।। तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य ततो महात्मा दत्त्वा च वित्त हलभृद् द्विजेभ्य: । अवाप्य धर्म परमार्थकर्मा जगाम सोमस्य महत् सुतीर्थम्,पारमार्थिक कर्म करनेवाले महात्मा हलधर वहाँ भी स्नान करके ब्राह्मणोंको धन-दान दे धर्मका फल पाकर सोमके महान् एवं उत्तम तीर्थमें गये
tatrāpy upaspṛśya tato mahātmā dattvā ca vittaṃ halabhṛd dvijebhyaḥ | avāpya dharmaṃ paramārthakarmā jagāma somasya mahat sutīrtham ||
There too, Jaigīṣavya the righteous and the sage Asita possessed such potency; that excellent place of those two great souls was itself a tīrtha. There, the great-souled Balarāma, bearer of the plough, performed ritual bathing and bestowed wealth upon the twice-born Brahmins. Having gained the fruit of dharma through deeds aimed at the highest good, he went on to Soma the Moon-god’s great and excellent sacred ford.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic pattern: purification (ritual bathing), generosity to Brahmins, and purposeful action aimed at the highest good. Ethical giving and disciplined conduct are presented as producing tangible spiritual merit (dharma-phala).
Balarāma continues his pilgrimage: he bathes at a sacred place, donates wealth to Brahmins, gains religious merit, and then travels onward to Soma’s renowned and auspicious tīrtha.