Shloka 36
Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances
रत्नानि मुक्तामणिविद्रुमं चा- प्यग्रयं सुवर्ण रजतं सुशुद्धम् अयस्मयं ताम्रमयं च भाण्डं ददौ द्विजातिप्रवरेषु राम:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
ratnāni muktāmaṇi-vidrumaṃ cāpy agryaṃ suvarṇa-rajataṃ suśuddham |
ayasmayaṃ tāmramayaṃ ca bhāṇḍaṃ dadau dvijāti-pravareṣu rāmaḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: Rāma (Balarāma) menganugerahkan kepada para dwija terkemuka—brāhmaṇa yang utama—berbagai harta mulia: permata, mutiara, manik-manik, dan karang, juga emas terbaik serta perak yang sangat murni. Ia pun membagikan bejana-bejana dari besi dan tembaga.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dāna as a dharmic duty: wealth is to be used for righteous purposes, especially honoring worthy brāhmaṇas and sustaining the moral-religious order. Generosity, purity of gifts, and proper recipients together create ethical merit.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Balarāma’s acts of lavish gifting: he distributes precious materials (gems, pearls, coral), refined gold and silver, and practical metal vessels (iron and copper) to eminent brāhmaṇas, portraying him as upholding dharma through munificence.