Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
तस्य तर्पयतो देवान् सरस्वत्यां महात्मन: । समीपतो महाराज सोपातिष्ठत भाविनी,महाराज! एक दिन, जब महात्मा दधीच सरस्वती नदीमें देवताओंका तर्पण कर रहे थे, वह माननीय अप्सरा उनके पास जाकर खड़ी हो गयी
tasya tarpayato devān sarasvatyāṁ mahātmanaḥ | samīpato mahārāja sopātiṣṭhata bhāvinī ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Mientras aquel sabio magnánimo ofrecía el tarpana—las libaciones de agua— a los dioses en la ribera del Sarasvatī, una apsara radiante y noble se acercó y se quedó de pie junto a él, oh rey.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse underscores the ethical-religious idea that faithful performance of sacred duties—here, tarpana to the gods—possesses spiritual potency and attracts divine attention, presenting disciplined observance as a form of dharma.
A great sage is performing offerings to the gods at the Sarasvatī. At that moment, a radiant apsaras comes close and stands near him, setting up a forthcoming interaction.