Shloka 30

Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins

Devanagari script

विज्ञायातीतवयसं रुषड्गुं ते तपोधना: । तं च तीर्थमुपानिन्यु: सरस्वत्यास्तपोधनम्‌,उन तपस्वी पुत्रोंने तपोधन रुषंगुको अत्यन्त वृद्ध जानकर उन्हें सरस्वतीके उस उत्तम तीर्थमें पहुँचा दिया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | vijñāyātītavayasaṃ ruṣaḍguṃ te tapodhanāḥ | taṃ ca tīrtham upāninyuḥ sarasvatyās tapodhanam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Recognizing Ruṣaḍgu as having passed beyond the prime of life, those ascetics—rich in austerity—led him to that sacred ford of the Sarasvatī, a holy place revered by men of penance. The act reflects the duty of the spiritually mature to guide the aged toward sanctifying spaces and supportive refuge.

Word by Word

• विज्ञाय: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु √ज्ञा)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• अतीत-वयसम्: one who has passed beyond youth; very aged
• अतीत-वयसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतीत-वयस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रुषड्गुम्: Rushadgu (proper name)
• रुषड्गुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुषड्गु (प्रातिपदिक, नाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तपोधनाः: ascetics; those whose wealth is austerity
• तपोधनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तीर्थम्: ford; sacred bathing-place
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उपानिन्युः: they led (him) near; they brought (him) to
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-नी (धातु √नी)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), Third, Plural, परस्मैपदम्

• सरस्वत्याः: of Sarasvatī (river/goddess)
• सरस्वत्याः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• तपोधनम्: austere; rich in austerity (as an epithet of the tīrtha)
• तपोधनम्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Ruṣaḍgu
• Sarasvatī (river)
• Tīrtha (sacred ford)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Those grounded in tapas (spiritual discipline) should support and guide the aged toward places and practices that sustain dignity, purification, and peace; caring guidance is presented as a dharmic responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ascetics, realizing that Ruṣaḍgu is extremely old, escort him to a revered tīrtha on the Sarasvatī—an established holy site associated with ascetic merit.