Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

स पन्था: प्रब॒भौ राजन्‌ सर्वस्यैव सुखावह: । स्वर्गोपमस्तदा वीर नराणां तत्र गच्छताम्‌ | नित्यप्रमुदितोपेत: स्वादुभक्ष्य: शुभान्वित:,वीर नरेश! वहाँ यात्रा करनेवाले सब लोगोंको वह मार्ग स्वर्गके समान सुखदायक प्रतीत होता था। उस मार्गमें सदा आनन्द रहता, स्वादिष्ट भोजन मिलता और शुभकी ही प्राप्ति होती थी

Transliteration

sa panthāḥ prababhau rājan sarvasyaiva sukhāvahaḥ | svargopamas tadā vīra narāṇāṃ tatra gacchatām | nityapramuditopetaḥ svādubhakṣyaḥ śubhānvitaḥ |

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说道：“大王啊，那时那条道路光彩焕发，仿佛为众生带来安乐。凡行于其上的勇士与众人，都觉得它宛如天界——常有欢悦，备有甘美可口之食，并有吉祥之果相随。”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'panthāḥ', 'definition': 'road, path, route'}, {'term': 'prababhau', 'definition': 'shone forth

• appeared splendid/manifest'}, {'term': 'rājan', 'definition': 'O king (vocative address)'}, {'term': 'sarvasya eva', 'definition': 'for everyone indeed'}, {'term': 'sukhāvahaḥ', 'definition': 'bringing happiness

• conducive to comfort'}, {'term': 'svargopamaḥ', 'definition': 'comparable to heaven

• heaven-like'}, {'term': 'tadā', 'definition': 'then, at that time'}, {'term': 'vīra', 'definition': 'O hero

• brave one (vocative)'}, {'term': 'narāṇām', 'definition': 'of men/people'}, {'term': 'tatra gacchatām', 'definition': 'of those going there

• of travellers on that route'}, {'term': 'nitya', 'definition': 'constant, continual'}, {'term': 'pramudita', 'definition': 'gladdened, joyful'}, {'term': 'upetaḥ', 'definition': 'endowed with

• accompanied by'}, {'term': 'svādu-bhakṣyaḥ', 'definition': 'having sweet/tasty food

• providing delicious fare'}, {'term': 'śubhānvitaḥ', 'definition': 'attended by auspiciousness

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• King (Janamejaya, implied addressee)
• panthāḥ (the road/path)
• svarga (heaven, as comparison)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how an environment shaped by auspicious conditions—joy, nourishment, and good omens—can make even a difficult journey feel ‘heaven-like.’ Ethically, it underscores the value of providing safe passage and hospitality so that people experience well-being rather than fear or deprivation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes to the king a particular route taken by travellers/warriors. That road appears radiant and exceptionally pleasant: people moving along it feel constant cheer, find tasty food, and encounter auspicious results, as though they were travelling through heaven.