Shloka 41
Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances
पूर्व महाराज यदुप्रवीर ऋषत्विक्सुह्ृद्विप्रगणैश्न सार्थम् पुण्यं प्रभासं समुपाजगाम यत्रोडुराड् यक्ष्मणा क्लिश्यमान:,महाराज! यदुकुलके प्रमुख वीर बलरामजी सबसे पहले ऋत्विजों, सुहृदों और ब्राह्मणोंके साथ पुण्यमय प्रभासक्षेत्रमें गये, जहाँ राजयक्ष्मासे कष्ट पाते हुए चन्द्रमाको शापसे छुटकारा मिला था। नरेन्द्र! वे वहीं पुन: अपना तेज प्राप्त करके सम्पूर्ण जगत्को प्रकाशित करते हैं। इस प्रकार चन्द्रमाको प्रभासित करनेके कारण ही वह प्रधान तीर्थ इस पृथ्वीपर प्रभास नामसे विख्यात हुआ
pūrvaṃ mahārāja yadupravīra ṛṣatvik-suhṛd-vipra-gaṇaiḥ sa sārdham | puṇyaṃ prabhāsaṃ samupājagāma yatroḍurāḍ yakṣmaṇā kliśyamānaḥ ||
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ହେ ମହାରାଜ! ପୂର୍ବକାଳରେ ଯଦୁକୁଳର ଅଗ୍ରବୀର (ବଳରାମ) ଋତ୍ୱିଜ, ସୁହୃଦ ଓ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଗଣଙ୍କ ସହ ପୁଣ୍ୟ ତୀର୍ଥ ପ୍ରଭାସକୁ ଗଲେ; ସେଠାରେ ନକ୍ଷତ୍ରାଧିପତି ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ରାଜୟକ୍ଷ୍ମାରେ କ୍ଲିଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ଆରୋଗ୍ୟ ପାଇଥିଲେ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethic of tīrtha-yātrā: sacred places are portrayed as sources of puṇya and restoration—spiritual and even cosmic—symbolized by the Moon regaining radiance at Prabhāsa. It reinforces reverence for holy geography and the company of priests, brāhmaṇas, and well-wishers in meritorious acts.
Vaiśampāyana recounts an earlier event: the foremost Yādava hero (understood here as Balarāma) travels with priests, friends, and brāhmaṇas to the holy site Prabhāsa. The place is famed because the Moon, suffering from yakṣmā, was relieved there and shone again—hence the name ‘Prabhāsa,’ the ‘place of splendor.’