Shloka 68

Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections

Devanagari script

तपस्याके धनी धर्मात्मा महामुनि भरद्वाजने उसके जातकर्म आदि सब संस्कार करके देवर्षियोंकी सभामें उसका नाम श्रुतावती रख दिया। फिर वे उस कन्याको अपने आश्रममें रखकर हिमालयके जंगलमें चले गये थे ।।

Transliteration

tatrāpy upaspṛśya mahānubhāvo vasūni dattvā ca mahādvijebhyaḥ | jagāma tīrthaṃ susamāhitātmā śakrasya vṛṣṇipravaras tadānīm ||

Translation

Đại thánh Bharadvāja, bậc giữ gìn chính pháp, đã làm đủ các lễ nghi từ jātakarma, rồi trước hội chúng các thiên hiền đặt tên nàng là “Śrutāvatī”. Sau đó, ngài để cô gái ấy lại trong đạo tràng của mình và đi vào rừng núi Hi Mã Lạp Sơn. Ở nơi ấy nữa, bậc hiển hách—Balarāma, người ưu việt nhất trong dòng Vṛṣṇi—đã tắm gội theo nghi lễ, bố thí tài vật cho các Bà-la-môn thượng hạng, rồi với tâm chuyên nhất, khi ấy rời đó đến thánh độ của Śakra, tức Indra-tīrtha.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• उपस्पृश्य: having bathed/touched water (performed ablution)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपस्पृश्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• महानुभावः: the great-souled one
• महानुभावः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानुभाव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसूनि: wealth/treasures
• वसूनि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

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

• महाद्विजेभ्यः: to the great Brahmins
• महाद्विजेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाद्विज
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• जगाम: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: लिट् (perfect), Past (perfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• सुसमाहितात्मा: one whose mind is well-composed
• सुसमाहितात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुसमाहितात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्रस्य: of Śakra (Indra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वृष्णिप्रवरः: the foremost among the Vṛṣṇis
• वृष्णिप्रवरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष्णिप्रवर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तदानीम्: then/at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदानीम्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Baladeva (Balarāma)
• Vṛṣṇi lineage
• Śakra (Indra)
• Indra-tīrtha (Śakra-tīrtha)
• Brāhmaṇas (mahādvijas)
• Tīrtha (pilgrimage ford)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic steadiness: ritual purity, mental composure, and charitable giving to worthy recipients are upheld as righteous duties even during turbulent times.

What is happening in the narrative?

Baladeva (the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis) bathes at a sacred place, donates wealth to eminent Brahmins, and then proceeds onward to Indra’s sacred ford (Śakra/Indra-tīrtha) with a focused mind.