Shloka 60
Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances
दक्षके इतना कहनेपर भी भगवान् चन्द्रमा उनकी बातकी अवहेलना करके केवल रोहिणीके ही साथ रहने लगे। यह देख दूसरी स्त्रियाँ पुनः क्रोधसे जल उठीं और पिताके पास जा उनके चरणोंमें मस्तक नवाकर प्रणाम करनेके अनन्तर बोलीं--“भगवन्! सोम हमारे पास नहीं रहते। अतः आप हमें शरण दें ।। रोहिण्यामेव भगवान् सदा वसति चन्द्रमा: । न त्वद्वाद्ो गणयति नास्मासु स्नेहमिच्छति
rohinyām eva bhagavān sadā vasati candramāḥ | na tvad-vādo gaṇayati nāsmāsu sneham icchati ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Even after Dakṣa had spoken thus, the divine Moon disregarded his words and continued to dwell only with Rohiṇī. Seeing this, the other wives again burned with anger. They went to their father, bowed their heads at his feet, and after offering reverence said, “Lord, Soma does not stay with us; therefore grant us refuge. The blessed Moon always lives only with Rohiṇī; he does not heed even your command, and he does not wish to show affection toward us.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical fault of partiality within a relationship: exclusive favoritism violates fairness and provokes justified grievance. It also shows that disregarding legitimate counsel or authority (here, Dakṣa’s admonition) leads to social and moral disorder, prompting those harmed to seek protection through proper, respectful appeal.
Soma (the Moon) continues to live only with Rohiṇī despite Dakṣa’s warning. The other wives, distressed and angry, approach their father Dakṣa, bow to him, and complain that Soma ignores Dakṣa’s words and refuses them affection, asking Dakṣa to protect them.