Shloka 12
Asita Devala Observes Jaigīṣavya’s Yogic Attainment and Chooses Mokṣa-dharma (देवल-जैगीषव्योपाख्यानम्)
यत्रानयामास तदा राजसूयं महीपते । पुत्रोडदितेर्महाभागो वरुणो वै सितप्रभ:,पृथ्वीनाथ! देवताओं और ब्रह्मर्षियोंसे सेवित उस उत्तम पुण्यमय तीर्थमें मुनियोंको प्रणाम करके बलरामजी यमुनातीर्थमें आये, जहाँ अदितिके महाभाग पुत्र गौरकान्ति वरुणजीने राजसूय यज्ञका अनुष्ठान किया था
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
yatrānayāmāsa tadā rājasūyaṃ mahīpate |
putro 'diteḥ mahābhāgo varuṇo vai sitaprabhaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai tuan bumi! Di tīrtha suci itu, pada zaman dahulu Varuṇa yang termasyhur—putera Aditi yang mulia, bersinar dengan cahaya putih—telah melaksanakan korban Rājasūya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sanctity of tīrthas and the authority of Vedic rites: even divine figures are portrayed as upholding dharma through properly performed sacrifices, and the narrative frames pilgrimage and reverence to sages as ethically elevating acts.
Vaiśampāyana identifies a particular sacred place—associated with Varuṇa’s performance of the Rājasūya—and (in the surrounding narration) situates Balarāma’s arrival at the Yamunā ford after paying respects to the sages at that revered tīrtha.