Shloka 8
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
तस्य तर्पयतो देवान् सरस्वत्यां महात्मन: । समीपतो महाराज सोपातिष्ठत भाविनी,महाराज! एक दिन, जब महात्मा दधीच सरस्वती नदीमें देवताओंका तर्पण कर रहे थे, वह माननीय अप्सरा उनके पास जाकर खड़ी हो गयी
tasya tarpayato devān sarasvatyāṁ mahātmanaḥ | samīpato mahārāja sopātiṣṭhata bhāvinī ||
毗湿摩波耶那说：当那位大德仙人正在萨拉斯瓦蒂河畔为诸天行供水礼（tarpana）时，一位光辉而端庄的天女走近前来，站在他身旁，哦，国王。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical-religious idea that faithful performance of sacred duties—here, tarpana to the gods—possesses spiritual potency and attracts divine attention, presenting disciplined observance as a form of dharma.
A great sage is performing offerings to the gods at the Sarasvatī. At that moment, a radiant apsaras comes close and stands near him, setting up a forthcoming interaction.