Shloka 183
सरस्वतीतीर्थानुक्रमः — बलरामस्य तीर्थयात्रा
Sarasvatī Tīrtha Itinerary — Balarāma’s Pilgrimage
प्राचीं दिशं महात्मान आजम्मुस्ते महर्षय: । राजन्! ऐसा विचार करके उन तीनों भाइयोंने वही किया। वे सभी यजमानोंके यहाँ पशुओंकी प्राप्तिके उद्देश्स्से गये और उनसे विधिपूर्वक यज्ञ करवाकर उस याज्यकर्मके द्वारा उन्होंने बहुतेरे पशु प्राप्त कर लिये। तत्पश्चात् वे महात्मा महर्षि पूर्वदिशाकी ओर चल दिये
prācīṃ diśaṃ mahātmāna ājagmustе maharṣayaḥ | rājan, evaṃ vicārya te trayo bhrātaraḥ tad eva cakruḥ | te sarve yajamānānāṃ gṛhān paśuprāptyartham agacchan, tebhyo vidhivat yajñān kārayitvā, tena yājyakarmāṇā bahūn paśūn prāpuḥ | tataḥ paścāt te mahātmā maharṣayaḥ pūrvadiśaṃ prati jagmuḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, setelah menimbang demikian, tiga bersaudara itu pun bertindak sebagaimana diputuskan. Mereka pergi ke rumah para penganjur korban (yajamāna) dengan tujuan memperoleh ternakan; dan setelah upacara korban dilaksanakan menurut tata cara yang benar, melalui khidmat kependetaan itu mereka memperoleh banyak haiwan. Sesudah itu, para resi yang berhati luhur itu pun meneruskan perjalanan ke arah timur.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights regulated conduct (vidhi) and livelihood through sanctioned means: the sages obtain wealth (cattle) not by coercion but through properly performed ritual service, implying that ends should be pursued through dharmic, socially recognized duties.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that three brothers, acting after deliberation, go among sacrificers to officiate sacrifices, receive many animals as recompense for their ritual service, and then continue their journey toward the eastern direction.