Shloka 85
Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances
अमावास्यां महाराज नित्यश: शशलक्षण: । स्नात्वा ह्॒ाप्यायते श्रीमान् प्रभासे तीर्थ उत्तमे
amāvāsyāṃ mahārāja nityaśaḥ śaśalakṣaṇaḥ | snātvā hy āpyāyate śrīmān prabhāse tīrtha uttame ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja agung, pada setiap hari amāvāsyā (bulan baharu), Sang Bulan yang mulia—bertanda kelinci—mandi di Prabhāsa, tīrtha yang paling utama; dan dengan itu ia dipulihkan serta kembali penuh.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents tīrtha as a source of renewal: even the Moon, diminished at amāvāsyā, is said to regain fullness through ritual bathing at Prabhāsa—an image linking sacred practice with restoration and cosmic regularity.
Vaiśampāyana explains to the king a traditional account about Prabhāsa: on each new-moon day the Moon (identified by the hare-mark) bathes there and becomes replenished, highlighting the tīrtha’s exceptional sanctity.