Shloka 18
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
तृप्तिं यास्यन्ति सुभगे तर्प्पमाणास्तवाम्भसा । उसके ऐसा कहनेपर मुनिने उस पुत्रको ग्रहण कर लिया और वे बड़े प्रसन्न हुए। भरतभूषण! उन द्विजश्रेष्ठने बड़े प्रेमसे अपने उस पुत्रका मस्तक सूँघा और दीर्घ-गकालतक छातीसे लगाकर अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हुए महामुनिने सरस्वतीको वर दिया--'सुभगे! तुम्हारे जलसे तर्पण करनेपर विश्वेदेव, पितृणगण तथा गन्धर्वों और अप्सराओंके समुदाय सभी तृप्ति-लाभ करेंगे” || १५-१७ $ ।। इत्युक्त्वा स तु तुष्टाव वचोभिवैं महानदीम्
tṛptiṁ yāsyanti subhage tarpamāṇās tavāmbhasā |
Vaiśampāyana said: “O auspicious one, those who perform offerings of satisfaction with your waters will attain fulfillment.” In context, the sage, pleased, accepts the son and affectionately embraces him; then he grants Sarasvatī a boon that her waters, when used for ritual libations, will bring satisfaction to the Viśvedevas, the Pitṛs, and the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases—affirming the ethical power of sacred giving and proper rites to benefit both divine and ancestral orders.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Properly performed tarpaṇa (ritual offerings of water) is portrayed as dharmic action that creates real benefit: it brings ‘tṛpti’ (satisfaction/fulfillment) to divine collectives and to the ancestors, showing how sacred resources (a river’s waters) become instruments of ethical reciprocity and gratitude.
A sage, delighted, accepts a son and expresses affection; then he grants Sarasvatī a boon: anyone who uses her waters for tarpaṇa will successfully satisfy the Viśvedevas, the Pitṛs, and the Gandharva–Apsaras communities.