Shloka 59
Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances
गत्वा च पितर प्राहु: प्रणम्य शिरसा तदा । सोमो वसति नास्मासु तस्मान्न: शरणं भव
gatvā ca pitaraḥ prāhuḥ praṇamya śirasā tadā | somo vasati nāsmāsu tasmān naḥ śaraṇaṃ bhava ||
അവർ പിതാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ ചെന്നു, തലകുനിച്ച് നമസ്കരിച്ച് പറഞ്ഞു— “സോമൻ ഞങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം വസിക്കുന്നില്ല; അതിനാൽ നിങ്ങൾ ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് ശരണം ആകണം।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When one feels depleted of inner auspicious strength (symbolized by Soma), the dharmic response is humility and seeking rightful refuge—approaching an elder/authority with reverence and asking for protection and guidance rather than acting from pride or despair.
The speaker reports that certain persons, after going to their father, bow respectfully and confess that ‘Soma’—a sign of vitality/auspicious power—no longer resides in them, and they request him to become their shelter.