Shloka 32

Vasiṣṭhāpavāha: Sarasvatī’s Diversion and Viśvāmitra’s Curse (वसिष्ठापवाहः)

Devanagari script

रत्नानि च महाहाणि धन धान्यं च पुष्कलम्‌ | ययौ तीर्थ महाबाहुर्यायातं पृथिवीपते

Transliteration

ratnāni ca mahārghāṇi dhana-dhānyaṁ ca puṣkalam | yayau tīrthaṁ mahābāhur yāyātaṁ pṛthivīpate ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Le puissant Balarāma, ô seigneur de la terre, après avoir, en ce gué sacré, fait aux brāhmaṇas des dons selon le rite—éléphants, chevaux, chars attelés de mulets, gemmes précieuses, ainsi que richesses et grains en abondance—se mit en route vers le lieu saint nommé Yāyāta-tīrtha.

Word by Word

• रत्नानि: gems, jewels
• रत्नानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महाहाणि: great gifts/valuables (reading uncertain)
• महाहाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहाणि
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• धनम्: wealth, money
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धान्यम्: grain, provisions
• धान्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पुष्कलम्: abundant, plentiful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ययौ: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• तीर्थम्: to the pilgrimage-place (tirtha)
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed one
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ययातम्: to (the tirtha of) Yayāta
• ययातम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ययात
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पृथिवीपते: O lord of the earth (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Balarāma
• Yāyāta-tīrtha
• tīrtha (pilgrimage site)
• brāhmaṇas
• ratna (gems)
• dhana (wealth)
• dhānya (grain)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dāna performed with vidhi (proper procedure): generosity is ethically elevated when it is disciplined, directed to worthy recipients (brāhmaṇas), and connected to sacred duty during pilgrimage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates Balarāma’s continued tīrtha-yātrā: after making substantial ritual gifts at one sacred site, he proceeds onward to Yāyāta-tīrtha.