Shloka 54

Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances

Devanagari script

विसृष्टास्तास्तथा जम्मु: शीतांशुभवनं तदा । तथापि सोमो भगवान्‌ पुनरेव महीपते

Transliteration

visṛṣṭās tāstathā jammuḥ śītāṃśubhavanaṃ tadā | tathāpi somo bhagavān punareva mahīpate

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Thus released, they then went to the abode of the cool-rayed Moon. Yet even so, O king, the blessed Lord Soma returned again—suggesting that divine agency is not bound merely by a single departure or event, but re-engages according to a higher purpose within the unfolding of fate and duty.

Word by Word

विसृष्टाःreleased, let go

ताःthose (f.)

तथाthus, in that manner

जम्मुःJammu (proper name/place-name)

शीतांशु-भवनम्the abode of the moon

तदाthen

तथाeven so, nevertheless (in this context)

अपिalso, even

सोमःSoma; the Moon

भगवान्the blessed/lordly one

पुनःagain

एवindeed, just

महीपतेO king (lord of the earth)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Soma (Moon-god)

Śītāṃśubhavana (abode of the Moon)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that divine forces (here, Soma) may withdraw and yet return again, implying that cosmic order operates through recurring intervention aligned with a higher purpose rather than a one-time, linear action.

What is happening in the narrative?

After certain beings are released, they proceed to the Moon’s abode; nevertheless, Soma himself returns again, marking a shift or continuation in the episode where Soma’s presence becomes relevant once more.