Shloka 55

Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections

Devanagari script

यथा त्वया महाभागे मदर्थ संशितव्रते । विशेषो हि त्वया भद्ठे व्रते ह्स्मिन्‌ समर्पित:

Transliteration

yathā tvayā mahābhāge mad-arthaṁ saṁśita-vrate | viśeṣo hi tvayā bhadre vrate ’smin samarpitaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai wanita yang berbahagia, teguh dalam nazar yang berdisiplin—sebagaimana engkau menempuh tapa demi diriku, demikian juga Dewi Arundhatī yang berhati suci mencapai kesempurnaan tertinggi di sini. Wahai yang lemah lembut, dalam amalan nazar ini engkau telah memperlihatkan penyerahan diri yang istimewa.”

Word by Word

• {'yathā': 'just as

• in the manner that', 'tvayā': 'by you', 'mahābhāge': 'O greatly fortunate/noble lady', 'mad-artham': 'for my sake

• on my account', 'saṁśita-vrate': 'firm/steadfast in vow

• one whose vow is well-resolved', 'viśeṣaḥ': 'special distinction

• exceptional feature', 'hi': 'indeed

• for', 'bhadre': 'O auspicious/gentle lady (vocative of address)', 'vrate': 'in the vow/observance', 'asmin': 'in this', 'samarpitaḥ': 'offered

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arundhatī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that the power of a vow (vrata) is intensified by steadfastness and self-surrender (samarpana). Ethical discipline is not merely external practice; it becomes spiritually efficacious when dedicated with wholehearted intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana addresses a noble woman who has undertaken a rigorous observance for his sake, praising her exceptional dedication. He cites Arundhatī as an exemplar who attained supreme success through such purity and commitment, thereby validating the woman’s practice.