Shloka 24
सरस्वतीतीर्थानुक्रमः — बलरामस्य तीर्थयात्रा
Sarasvatī Tīrtha Itinerary — Balarāma’s Pilgrimage
त्रितो5पि गच्छतां काममावाभ्यां वै विना कृत: । “तत्रित यज्ञ करानेमें कुशल हैं, त्रित वेदोंके परिनिष्छित विद्वान् हैं, अतः वे और बहुत-सी गौएँ प्राप्त कर लेंगे। इस समय हम दोनों एक साथ होकर इन गौओंको हाँक ले चलें और त्रित हमसे अलग होकर जहाँ इच्छा हो वहाँ चले जायूँ” || २२-२३ $ ।।
trito 'pi gacchatāṃ kāmam āvabhyāṃ vai vinā kṛtaḥ | teṣām āgacchatāṃ rātrau pathi-sthānāṃ vṛko 'bhavat ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「トリタもまた望むところへ行かせよ。我らは彼を、我ら抜きで後に残したのだ。彼は祭式を執行することに巧みで、ヴェーダを究めた知者である。ゆえに多くの牛を報いとして得るであろう。今は我ら二人が連れ立って、この牛どもを追い立てて進み、トリタは望むまま別に行くがよい。」彼らが夜に帰途につき、道を行くと、狼が現れた。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts outward respect for learning (praising Trita’s Vedic mastery and sacrificial skill) with ethically questionable conduct (leaving him behind while taking the cattle). It hints that self-serving decisions—especially those that marginalize a companion—invite peril and moral consequence, symbolized by the sudden appearance of danger on the road.
Two companions decide to proceed together driving the cows, while allowing (and effectively leaving) Trita to go separately as he wishes. As they travel back at night along the road, a wolf appears, introducing an immediate external threat and setting up the next turn of events.