Shloka 40
सरस्वतीतीर्थानुक्रमः — बलरामस्य तीर्थयात्रा
Sarasvatī Tīrtha Itinerary — Balarāma’s Pilgrimage
तब देवपुरोहित बृहस्पतिजीने वेदमन्त्रोंक उस तुमुलनादको सुनकर देवताओंसे कहा --'देवगण! त्रित मुनिका यज्ञ हो रहा है, वहाँ हमलोगोंको चलना चाहिये ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tataḥ devapurohito bṛhaspatiḥ vedamantraiḥ uktaṃ taṃ tumulanādaṃ śrutvā devatān uvāca— “devagaṇāḥ! tritasya muneḥ yajño vartate; tatra asmābhiḥ gantavyam. sa hi kruddhaḥ sṛjed anyān devān api, mahātapāḥ. tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya sahitāḥ sarvadevatāḥ …”
तदा देवपुरोहितो बृहस्पतिः तं तुमुलनादं श्रुत्वा वेदमन्त्रसमन्वितम्, देवानुवाच—“देवगणाः! त्रितस्य मुनेर्यज्ञः प्रवर्तते; तत्र गन्तव्यमस्माभिः। स हि क्रुद्धः सृजेद् अन्यान् देवानपि महातपाः।” तच्छ्रुत्वा तस्य वचनं सहिताḥ सर्वदेवताः तत्कर्तुं समुपचक्रमुः।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores the moral and social power of tapas and yajña: even gods must honor a great ascetic’s rite. Neglecting rightful respect can provoke consequences, so authority is tempered by accountability to dharma and sacred obligation.
Bṛhaspati hears a loud sound linked with Vedic chanting and infers that the sage Trita is conducting a sacrifice. He urges the gods to attend, warning that Trita’s ascetic power is so great that, if angered by their absence, he could create other gods; the deities then act together in response.