Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार उदार वृत्तिवाले अनुपम प्रभावशाली महात्मा बलरामने सरस्वतीके श्रेष्ठ तीर्थोमें बहुत धन दान किया और क्रमशः यात्रा करते हुए वे कुरक्षेत्रमें आये ।।

Transliteration

janamejaya uvāca | sārasvatānāṁ tīrthānāṁ guṇotpattiṁ vadasva me | phalaṁ ca dvipadāṁ śreṣṭha karmānirvattim eva ca ||

Translation

یوں عالی ظرف اور بے مثال جلال والے مہاتما بلرام نے سرسوتی کے برتر تیرتھوں پر بہت سا دھن دان کیا اور بتدریج یاترا کرتے ہوئے کوروکشیتر میں آ پہنچا۔ جنمیجَے نے کہا— اے بھگون! سرسوتی کے کنارے کے تیرتھوں کی خوبیوں کی پیدائش مجھے بتائیے؛ اور اے انسانوں میں افضل، ترتیب کے ساتھ ان کی زیارت کا پھل اور وہ کرم-ودھان بھی بیان کیجیے جن سے وہاں کامیابی (سِدھی) حاصل ہوتی ہے۔

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सारस्वतानाम्: of (those) belonging to Sarasvatī / Sarasvatī-related
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारस्वत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• तीर्थानाम्: of the sacred fords/pilgrimage-places
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• गुणोत्पत्तिम्: the origin (and account) of the qualities/excellences
• गुणोत्पत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुणोत्पत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वदस्व: tell (me)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Dative, Singular

• फलम्: the fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• द्विपदाम्: of bipeds (i.e., humans)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विपद
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठ: O best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• कर्मनिर्वत्तिम्: the accomplishment/fulfilment of the rite (the manner of performing the act)
• कर्मनिर्वत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मनिर्वत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Sarasvatī (river)
• tīrthas (Sarasvatī pilgrimage sites)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames tīrtha-yātrā as disciplined dharma: sacred places have specific virtues and origin-stories, and their benefits (phala) are linked to proper conduct and prescribed rites (karma-nirvatti), not mere travel.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janamejaya, eager to understand the Sarasvatī’s pilgrimage network, asks the narrator to explain the qualities, origins, sequential fruits of visiting those tīrthas, and the practices that lead to spiritual attainment there.