Shloka 24
सरस्वतीतीर्थानुक्रमः — बलरामस्य तीर्थयात्रा
Sarasvatī Tīrtha Itinerary — Balarāma’s Pilgrimage
त्रितो5पि गच्छतां काममावाभ्यां वै विना कृत: । “तत्रित यज्ञ करानेमें कुशल हैं, त्रित वेदोंके परिनिष्छित विद्वान् हैं, अतः वे और बहुत-सी गौएँ प्राप्त कर लेंगे। इस समय हम दोनों एक साथ होकर इन गौओंको हाँक ले चलें और त्रित हमसे अलग होकर जहाँ इच्छा हो वहाँ चले जायूँ” || २२-२३ $ ।। तेषामागच्छतां रात्रौ पथिस्थानां वृको5भवत्
trito 'pi gacchatāṃ kāmam āvabhyāṃ vai vinā kṛtaḥ | teṣām āgacchatāṃ rātrau pathi-sthānāṃ vṛko 'bhavat ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“也让特里塔随其所愿而行；我们已将他撇在后方，不与同往。他善于主持祭祀，亦为通达吠陀之大智者；因此他自会得许多牛作为酬报。此刻我二人当相伴而行，驱赶这些牛前进，让特里塔独自前往他所欲之处。”他们夜间归返，行于路上时，一只狼忽然出现。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts outward respect for learning (praising Trita’s Vedic mastery and sacrificial skill) with ethically questionable conduct (leaving him behind while taking the cattle). It hints that self-serving decisions—especially those that marginalize a companion—invite peril and moral consequence, symbolized by the sudden appearance of danger on the road.
Two companions decide to proceed together driving the cows, while allowing (and effectively leaving) Trita to go separately as he wishes. As they travel back at night along the road, a wolf appears, introducing an immediate external threat and setting up the next turn of events.