Shloka 1

Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative

Devanagari script

ऑपन--माजल छा जज सप्तत्रिशो5 ध्याय: विनशन

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tato vinaśanaṃ rājan jagāmātha halāyudhaḥ | śūdrābhīrān prati dveṣād yatra naṣṭā sarasvatī ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Затем, о царь, Халаюдха (Баларама) отправился в Винашану — место, где исчезает река Сарасвати, — движимый неприязнью к шудрам и абхирам. Стих изображает его паломничество и как священный путь, и как нравственно окрашенное отступление от общественного раздора, показывая, как внутренние настроения (например, ненависть) могут сопровождать даже внешне религиозные деяния.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• विनशनम्: Vinaśana (a place/pilgrimage spot)
• विनशनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनशन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• जगाम: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• अथ: then/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• हलायुधः: he whose weapon is a plough (Balarama)
• हलायुधः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हलायुध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शूद्राभीरान्: Śūdras and Ābhīras
• शूद्राभीरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्राभीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रति: towards/against
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• द्वेषात्: from hatred/owing to hatred
• द्वेषात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेष
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• नष्टा: vanished/lost
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्
• Form: kta (past passive participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī (river)
• सरस्वती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Halāyudha (Balarāma)
• Vinaśana
• Sarasvatī
• Śūdras
• Ābhīras

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse suggests that sacred action (pilgrimage to a tīrtha) does not automatically purify one’s motive: inner dispositions like dveṣa (aversion/hatred) can accompany religious conduct. It invites reflection on aligning outward dharmic practice with inward ethical intention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Balarāma (Halāyudha) proceeds to the tīrtha called Vinaśana, identified as the place where the Sarasvatī ‘disappears.’ His movement is linked to hostility toward the Śūdras and Ābhīras, indicating a socially charged context behind his journey.