Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

मैत्रनक्षत्रयोगे सम सहित: सर्वयादवै: । आश्रयामास भोजस्तु दुर्योधनमरिंदम:,इसके बाद शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले कृतव्माने सम्पूर्ण यादवोंके साथ अनुराधानक्षत्रमें दुर्योधनका पक्ष ग्रहण किया

Transliteration

maitranakṣatrayoge sama sahitaḥ sarvayādavaiḥ | āśrayāmāsa bhojas tu duryodhanam ariṃdamaḥ ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。マイトラ（アヌラーダー Anurādhā）の月宿が合する時、敵を屈することで名高いボージャの勇士は、すべてのヤーダヴァとともにドゥルヨーダナに身を寄せ、カウラヴァの陣営に与することを選んだ。

Word by Word

मैत्रin (the) Maitra (nakshatra)

नक्षत्रin the constellation

योगेat the conjunction/auspicious time

सम्together/with

सहितःaccompanied (by)

सर्वby all

यादवैःby/with the Yadavas

आश्रयामासtook refuge in / resorted to / joined

भोजःthe Bhoja (king/hero)

तुindeed/but

दुर्योधनम्Duryodhana

अरिंदमःenemy-subduing (one)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Duryodhana

Yādavas

Bhoja (a Yādava/Bhoja chief)

Maitra/Anurādhā nakṣatra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that choosing an alliance in wartime is a morally consequential act. Even when framed through auspicious timing (nakṣatra-yoga), the ethical burden remains: whom one supports can strengthen adharma or uphold dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that a Bhoja leader, accompanied by the Yādavas, formally aligns with Duryodhana during the Maitra/Anurādhā nakṣatra conjunction—indicating a decisive political shift toward the Kaurava side.