Mahabharata 9.35.43 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 35, Shloka 43

Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances

Devanagari script

जनमेजय उवाच कथं तु भगवन्‌ सोमो यक्ष्मणा समगृहा[त । कथं च तीर्थप्रवरे तरमिं श्षन्द्रोी न्यमज्जत

Transliteration

janamejaya uvāca | kathaṁ tu bhagavan somo yakṣmaṇā samagṛhītaḥ | kathaṁ ca tīrthapravare tatra candro nyamajjat |

Translation

ଜନମେଜୟ ପଚାରିଲେ—ଭଗବନ୍! ସୋମ (ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର) କିପରି ରାଜୟକ୍ଷ୍ମାରେ ଗ୍ରସ୍ତ ହେଲେ? ଏବଂ ସେଇ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ତୀର୍ଥରେ ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର କିପରି ସ୍ନାନ କଲେ?

Word by Word

• जनमेजयः: Janamejaya
• जनमेजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कथम्: how?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• तु: indeed/then/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• भगवन्: O venerable one
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सोमः: Soma (the Moon)
• सोमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यक्ष्मणा: by consumption/disease (yakṣmā)
• यक्ष्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• समगृहीतः: seized/afflicted
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ग्रह्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• अभवत्: became/was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कथम्: how?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तीर्थप्रवरे: in the best of holy fords (excellent tīrtha)
• तीर्थप्रवरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थप्रवर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तरङ्गिण्याम्: in the river (the wave-bearing one)
• तरङ्गिण्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरङ्गिणी
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• चन्द्रः: the Moon
• चन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न्यमज्जत्: bathed/immersed (plunged)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि- मज्ज्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Soma (Moon)
• Candra (Moon)
• Yakṣmā / Rājayakṣmā
• Tīrtha (a foremost sacred bathing place)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a dharmic inquiry: even exalted beings may suffer affliction, and relief is sought through prescribed sacred means—especially tīrtha-bathing and ritual purification—highlighting humility, accountability, and the restorative power attributed to holy places.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janamejaya asks the sage to explain two linked points: (1) how Soma/Candra became afflicted by rājayakṣmā, and (2) how he performed immersion at a foremost tīrtha there—setting up the ensuing account of the Moon’s ailment and its remedy through pilgrimage and bathing.