Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत शल्यपर्वके अन्तर्गत गदापव॑में बलदेवजीकी तीर्थयात्राके प्रसंगमें सारस्वतोपाख्यानविषयक चालीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Transliteration

iti prakāraṁ śrīmahābhārate śalyaparvaṇi antar-gata-gadāparvaṇi baladevasyā tīrthayātrā-prasaṅge sārasvatopākhyāna-viṣayakaś catvāriṁśo 'dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ | tatas tālaketur mahādharmaketur mahātmā kṛtātmā mahādāna-nityaḥ | vasiṣṭhāpavāhaṁ mahābhīmavegaṁ dhṛtātmā jitātmā samabhyājagāma ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Ainsi s’achève le quarantième chapitre de l’épisode de Sārasvata, dans la section de la massue (Gadā) du Śalya Parva du Mahābhārata, au fil du pèlerinage de Baladeva. Ensuite Baladeva—dont la bannière proclame le grand dharma, dont l’étendard porte l’emblème du palmier, âme magnanime, maître de soi et inébranlable, toujours voué aux largesses quotidiennes—se rendit au gué sacré nommé Vasiṣṭhāpavāha, où la Sarasvatī se rue avec une violence terrifiante.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तालकेतुः: he whose banner is marked with a palm-tree (Balarama)
• तालकेतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तालकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाधर्मकेतुः: he whose great banner is (of) dharma / whose banner is great dharma
• महाधर्मकेतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाधर्मकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महात्मा: great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृतात्मा: self-controlled / perfected in self
• कृतात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महादाननित्यः: ever engaged in great gifts (habitually giving great donations)
• महादाननित्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महादाननित्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसिष्ठापवाहम्: to Vasiṣṭhāpavāha (name of a tīrtha)
• वसिष्ठापवाहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठापवाह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महा: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीमवेगम्: of terrible speed/force
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीमवेग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धृतात्मा: steadfast-minded / self-possessed
• धृतात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जितात्मा: one who has conquered himself (self-controlled)
• जितात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जितात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समभ्याजगाम: went to / approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-आ-गम्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Śalya Parva
• Gadā Parva
• Baladeva (Balarāma)
• Sarasvatī (river)
• Vasiṣṭhāpavāha (tīrtha)
• Vasiṣṭha
• tāla (palmyra emblem/standard)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical ideals embodied by Baladeva—steadfast self-control (dhṛtātmā, jitātmā), commitment to dharma (dharma-ketu), and habitual generosity (mahā-dāna-nitya)—and frames pilgrimage as a disciplined, value-oriented practice rather than mere travel.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator marks the completion of the fortieth chapter of the Sārasvata episode within the Gadā section of Śalya Parva, then describes Baladeva proceeding on his tīrtha-yātrā to the sacred place called Vasiṣṭhāpavāha, noted for the fierce current of the Sarasvatī.