Shloka 17
Balarāma Slays Balvala and Visits Sacred Tīrthas; He Attempts to Stop Bhīma–Duryodhana
तत्रायुतमदाद् धेनूर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हलायुध: । कृतमालां ताम्रपर्णीं मलयं च कुलाचलम् ॥ १६ ॥ तत्रागस्त्यं समासीनं नमस्कृत्याभिवाद्य च । योजितस्तेन चाशीर्भिरनुज्ञातो गतोऽर्णवम् । दक्षिणं तत्र कन्याख्यां दुर्गां देवीं ददर्श स: ॥ १७ ॥
tatrāyutam adād dhenūr brāhmaṇebhyo halāyudhaḥ kṛtamālāṁ tāmraparṇīṁ malayaṁ ca kulācalam
En Setubandha (Rāmeśvaram), el Señor Halāyudha Balarāma dio en caridad diez mil vacas a los brāhmaṇas. Luego visitó los ríos Kṛtamālā y Tāmraparṇī y la gran cordillera de Malaya. En Malaya halló al Ṛṣi Agastya sentado en samādhi; tras postrarse y ofrecerle alabanzas, recibió sus bendiciones y se despidió. Después llegó a la orilla del océano del sur, donde contempló a la Diosa Durgā en su forma de Kanyā-kumārī.
FAQs
This verse presents Balarāma’s dhārmic conduct during pilgrimage—honoring brāhmaṇas and supporting sacred learning through generous cow charity, a traditional act of piety and devotion.
Agastya is a revered Vedic sage associated with the South; Balarāma offers respects to him as part of honoring saintly authority, receiving blessings and permission before proceeding further on his tīrtha-yātrā.
It teaches respectful humility toward saints, purposeful pilgrimage (or spiritual discipline), and generosity—especially supporting genuine spiritual education and service-minded communities.