Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तीर्थ सरस्वत्या: पावन लोकविश्रुतम्‌ । तस्मिंश्व॒ यदुशार्दूलो दत्त्वा तीर्थे पयस्विनी:

Transliteration

tatas tīrthaṃ sarasvatyāḥ pāvanaṃ lokaviśrutam | tasmiṃś ca yaduśārdūlo dattvā tīrthe payasvinīḥ | tāmra-loha-mayāni pātrāṇi nānā-vidhāni ca vāsāṃsi brāhmaṇebhyo dadau | brāhmaṇān pūjayitvā sa svayam api tapasvibhir munibhiḥ pūjitaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Rồi Ngài đến một bến tắm (tīrtha) linh thiêng của sông Sarasvatī, nổi danh khắp thế gian vì năng lực tẩy uế. Tại nơi ấy, Balarāma—bậc hùng dũng như hổ trong dòng Yadu—đã làm lễ bố thí ở thánh địa: dâng tặng những con bò cho sữa, lại biếu các bình khí bằng đồng và sắt, cùng đủ loại y phục cho các bà-la-môn. Sau khi kính lễ các bà-la-môn, chính Ngài cũng được các ẩn sĩ khổ hạnh tôn kính đáp lễ.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सरस्वत्याः: of (the river) Sarasvatī
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• पावनम्: purifying, holy
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• लोकविश्रुतम्: renowned in the world
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकविश्रुत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तस्मिन्: in that (place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• यदुशार्दूलः: the tiger among the Yadus (Balarāma)
• यदुशार्दूलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदुशार्दूल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for absolutive)

• तीर्थे: at the sacred place
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पयस्विनीः: milk-yielding (cows)
• पयस्विनीः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Sarasvatī (river)
• Tīrtha (holy ford/place)
• Balarāma
• Yadus
• Brāhmaṇas
• Tapasvin munis (ascetic sages)
• Cows (payasvinīḥ)
• Copper vessels
• Iron vessels
• Garments/cloth

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma through dāna and reverence: giving valuable gifts (cows, utensils, clothing) to brāhmaṇas at a tīrtha and honoring them is presented as a purifying, socially sustaining act; the giver also becomes worthy of honor, showing that ethical generosity and respect for spiritual learning elevate both community and individual.

What is happening in the narrative?

Narratively, Balarāma arrives at a famous purifying tīrtha on the Sarasvatī during his travels, performs charitable donations to brāhmaṇas, and after honoring them, he is himself honored by ascetic sages—marking a moment of pilgrimage, ritual generosity, and mutual recognition.