Shloka 2
सरस्वतीतीर्थानुक्रमः — बलरामस्य तीर्थयात्रा
Sarasvatī Tīrtha Itinerary — Balarāma’s Pilgrimage
तत्र दत्त्वा बहु द्रव्यं पूजयित्वा तथा द्विजान् | उपस्पृश्य च तत्रैव प्रह्ृष्टो मुसलायुध:,मुसलधारी बलरामजीने वहाँ जलका स्पर्श, आचमन एवं स्नान करके बहुत-सा द्रव्य दान करनेके पश्चात् ब्राह्मणोंका पूजन किया। फिर वे बहुत प्रसन्न हुए
tatra dattvā bahu dravyaṃ pūjayitvā tathā dvijān | upaspṛśya ca tatraiva prahṛṣṭo musalāyudhaḥ ||
അവിടെ അദ്ദേഹം ധാരാളം ധനം ദാനം നൽകി, ദ്വിജന്മാരെ (ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ) വിധിപൂർവ്വം പൂജിച്ചു; ജലസ്പർശംകൊണ്ട് ശുദ്ധിക്രിയ (ആചമനം-സ്നാനം) നിർവഹിച്ചു; അതേ സ്ഥലത്തു തന്നെ മുസലായുധൻ ബലരാമൻ അത്യന്തം ഹർഷിതനായി.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic conduct—purification (ācamana/upaspṛśya), generosity (dattvā bahu dravyam), and honoring brāhmaṇas (pūjayitvā dvijān)—as meritorious acts that sustain moral and sacred order, even when the broader setting is dominated by conflict.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Balarāma, identified by the epithet musalāyudhaḥ, performs ritual purification by touching water, gives substantial gifts, honors the brāhmaṇas, and becomes pleased—marking a moment of pious observance within the unfolding events of the Śalya Parva.