Shloka 25
Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative
ततस्तीर्थ सरस्वत्या: पावन लोकविश्रुतम् । तस्मिंश्व॒ यदुशार्दूलो दत्त्वा तीर्थे पयस्विनी:
tatas tīrthaṃ sarasvatyāḥ pāvanaṃ lokaviśrutam | tasmiṃś ca yaduśārdūlo dattvā tīrthe payasvinīḥ | tāmra-loha-mayāni pātrāṇi nānā-vidhāni ca vāsāṃsi brāhmaṇebhyo dadau | brāhmaṇān pūjayitvā sa svayam api tapasvibhir munibhiḥ pūjitaḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Luego llegó a un vado sagrado del Sarasvatī, célebre en el mundo entero por su poder purificador. Allí Balarāma, tigre entre los Yadus, hizo dádivas en aquel lugar santo: donó vacas lecheras y también vasijas de cobre y de hierro, junto con prendas de muchas clases, a los brāhmaṇas. Tras honrar a los brāhmaṇas, él mismo fue honrado por los sabios ascetas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through dāna and reverence: giving valuable gifts (cows, utensils, clothing) to brāhmaṇas at a tīrtha and honoring them is presented as a purifying, socially sustaining act; the giver also becomes worthy of honor, showing that ethical generosity and respect for spiritual learning elevate both community and individual.
Narratively, Balarāma arrives at a famous purifying tīrtha on the Sarasvatī during his travels, performs charitable donations to brāhmaṇas, and after honoring them, he is himself honored by ascetic sages—marking a moment of pilgrimage, ritual generosity, and mutual recognition.