Shloka 34
सरस्वतीतीर्थानुक्रमः — बलरामस्य तीर्थयात्रा
Sarasvatī Tīrtha Itinerary — Balarāma’s Pilgrimage
ततस्तां वीरुधं॑ सोम॑ संकल्प्य सुमहातपा: । ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि मनसा चिन्तयन् मुनि:
tatas tāṁ vīrudhaṁ somaṁ saṅkalpya sumahātapāḥ | ṛco yajūṁṣi sāmāni manasā cintayan muniḥ | somasyābhiṣavaṁ kṛtvā cakāra vipulaṁ dhvanim ||
Lalu pertapa besar itu membayangkan sulur yang menjalar itu sebagai Soma. Sang resi, sambil merenungkan dalam batin himne-himne Ṛk, Yajus, dan Sāman, melakukan pemerasan Soma (abhiṣava) dan menimbulkan bunyi yang besar serta bergema.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that disciplined austerity (tapas), correct Vedic knowledge, and focused intention (saṅkalpa) empower sacred action. Inner concentration and faithful adherence to mantra and ritual order can make worship effective even when external means are limited.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a great sage mentally identifies a creeper as Soma, recalls the Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāman mantras, performs the Soma-pressing (abhiṣava), and produces a powerful ritual sound—signaling the successful enactment of a Soma rite through ascetic potency and mantra.