Shloka 13

Vaitaraṇī-tīrtha and the Devayāna Path

Kaliṅga Episode

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो वैतरणीं सर्वे पाण्डवा द्रौपदी तथा । अवतीर्य महाभागास्तर्पयांचक्रिरे पितृन्‌ू,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्‌! तदनन्तर महान्‌ भाग्यशाली समस्त पाण्डवों और द्रौपदीने वैतरणीके जलमें उतरकर अपने पितरोंका तर्पण किया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato vaitaraṇīṃ sarve pāṇḍavā draupadī tathā | avatīrya mahābhāgās tarpayāṃ cakrire pitṝn |

Translation

वैशंपायन म्हणाले—राजन्! त्यानंतर महाभाग्यवान सर्व पांडव आणि द्रौपदी वैतरणीत उतरून विधिपूर्वक पितरांचे तर्पण करू लागले।

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• वैतरणीम्: the Vaitaraṇī (river)
• वैतरणीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतरणी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वे: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डवाः: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्रौपदी: Draupadī
• द्रौपदी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अवतीर्य: having descended (into)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Active

• महाभागाः: greatly fortunate, illustrious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तर्पयाम्: they satisfied / they offered libations (tarpana)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्
• Form: Imperfect (periphrastic/causative base), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, as in the periphrastic imperfect with -आम् (often written in sandhi with following word)

• चक्रिरे: they did, performed
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (manes)
• पितॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• Draupadī
• Vaitaraṇī (river)
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in adversity, one should not abandon dharma—especially duties of gratitude and continuity such as honoring the pitṛs through tarpaṇa. The verse highlights ethical steadiness: remembrance of lineage and responsibility is part of righteous living.

What is happening in the narrative?

After reaching the Vaitaraṇī, the Pāṇḍavas and Draupadī enter its waters and perform tarpaṇa—ritual libations—to satisfy and honor their ancestors.