Shloka 1
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
ऑपन--माजल छा जज पज्चाशत्तमो<्ध्याय: आदित्यतीर्थकी महिमाके प्रसंगमें असित देवल तथा जैगीषव्य मुनिका चरित्र वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्मिन्नेव तु धर्मात्मा वसति सम तपोधन: । गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममास्थाय हासितो देवल: पुरा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tasminn eva tu dharmātmā vasati sma tapodhanaḥ | gārhasthyaṁ dharmam āsthāya hāsito devalaḥ purā ||
ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਹੇ ਜਨਮੇਜਯ! ਪੁਰਾਤਨ ਸਮੇਂ ਉਸੇ ਤੀਰਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਪੋਧਨ ਧਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਅਸਿਤ ਦੇਵਲ ਮੁਨੀ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਸਥ-ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਆਸਰਾ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਵੱਸਦਾ ਸੀ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that dharma is not confined to renunciation: a sage may adopt the householder’s path (gārhasthya-dharma) and still remain dharmātmā and tapodhana—ethically grounded and spiritually accomplished.
Vaiśampāyana begins an ancient episode connected with a sacred tīrtha, introducing the sage Asita Devala, who lived there in earlier times while following the duties of a householder—setting the stage for the tīrtha’s significance and the sages’ exemplifying conduct.