Shloka 23

Avanti–Narmadā–Puṣkara Tīrtha-Kathana (धौम्यकथितं तीर्थवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

यत्र भागीरथी पुण्या सरस्यासीद्‌ युधिष्ठिर । यत्र सा ब्रह्मशालेति पुण्या ख्याता विशाम्पते

Transliteration

yatra bhāgīrathī puṇyā sarasyāsīd yudhiṣṭhira | yatra sā brahmaśāleti puṇyā khyātā viśāmpate ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Oh Yudhiṣṭhira, había un lago sagrado donde estaba presente la santa Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā); allí, aquel lugar era célebre entre los hombres como la meritoria “Brahmaśālā”.»

Word by Word

यत्रwhere

भागीरथीthe Bhāgīrathī (Ganga)

पुण्याholy, sacred

सरसिin the lake

आसीत्was

युधिष्ठिरO Yudhiṣṭhira

यत्रwhere

साshe/that (river)

ब्रह्मशालाBrahmaśālā (name of the place)

इतिthus, as

पुण्याholy, sacred

ख्याताwas renowned/known

विशाम्पतेO lord of the people

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā)

Brahmaśālā

saras (sacred lake)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic value of tīrthas: places associated with sacred waters like the Gaṅgā are remembered as sources of puṇya, encouraging reverence, purity of conduct, and mindful pilgrimage rather than mere travel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing to Yudhiṣṭhira a particular holy location: a lake connected with the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā), famed among people by the name ‘Brahmaśālā,’ as part of a broader account of sacred places and their renown.