Shloka 36
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
सो<वतीर्याचलश्रेष्ठात् प्लक्षप्रस्रनणाच्छुभात्
so’vatīryācalśreṣṭhāt plakṣaprasravaṇāc chubhāt | tīrthasevanamahat phalaṁ śrutvā prītamanāḥ punar acyuto balarāmo brāhmaṇān samīpam etad gāthāślokam agāyat ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Bumaba siya mula sa pinakadakilang bundok, mula sa mapalad na Plakṣa-prasravaṇa; at si Acyuta Balarāma, na nagalak ang loob matapos marinig ang dakilang gantimpala ng pagdalaw sa mga tīrtha (banal na tawiran), ay lumapit sa mga Brahmin at inawit ang taludtod na ito.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds tīrtha-sevana (pilgrimage/visiting sacred places) as a dharmic practice that yields ‘great fruit’—moral and spiritual merit—especially when joined with humility and respect toward Brahmins and sacred tradition.
Balarāma descends from the auspicious Plakṣa-prasravaṇa region, becomes pleased after hearing about the benefits of pilgrimage, approaches the Brahmins, and begins to sing/recite a verse—serving as a transition into his spoken praise or teaching.