At Indra-Tīrtha, Balarāma bathed with ritual purity and offered gifts to the Brahmanas, honoring the site where Indra had performed a hundred grand sacrifices and earned the name Śatakratu. He then visited Rāma-Tīrtha, where Bhārgava Rāma had conquered the Earth, offered it to his teacher Kaśyapa after great sacrifices, and renounced the world.
Balarāma continued his sacred journey, reaching tīrthas where Varuṇa conducted a Rājasūya and fought a fierce war with the Daityas, and where Āditya gained radiance through sacrifice. At the Sarasvatī tīrtha, sanctified by Viṣṇu, Vyāsa, and other great sages, he honored ascetics and bathed in waters believed to grant spiritual liberation.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
इन्द्रतीर्थं ततो गत्वा यदूनां प्रवरो बलः ।
विप्रेभ्यो धनरत्नानि ददौ स्नात्वा यथाविधि ॥ | १ ||
vaiśampāyana uvāca
indratīrthaṃ tato gatvā yadūnāṃ pravaro balaḥ |
viprebhyo dhanaratnāni dadau snātvā yathāvidhi || | 1 ||
Vaishampāyana said Then, the illustrious Balarāma, foremost among the Yadus, went to Indra’s sacred Tīrtha. There, having bathed according to the prescribed rites, he generously offered wealth and precious gems to the Brahmanas.
तत्र ह्यमरराजोऽसावीजे क्रतुशतेन च ।
बृहस्पतेश्च देवेशः प्रददौ विपुलं धनम् ॥ २ ॥
tatra hyamararājo’sāvīje kratuśatena ca |
bṛhaspateśca deveśaḥ pradadau vipulaṃ dhanam || 2 ||
There, the sovereign of the celestials performed a hundred great sacrifices. The lord of the gods, Indra, bestowed immense wealth upon Bṛhaspati in reverence.
निरर्गलान् सजारूथ्यान् सर्वान् विविधदक्षिणान् ।
आजहार क्रतूंस्तत्र यथोक्तान् वेदपारगैः ॥ ३ ॥
nirargalān sajārūthyān sarvān vividhadakṣiṇān |
ājahāra kratūṃstatra yathoktān vedapāragaiḥ || 3 ||
There, Śakra performed grand sacrifices of boundless scale, with countless chariots, abundant offerings, and diverse gifts to the learned Brahmanas, all in strict adherence to the rites prescribed by the Vedas.
तान् क्रतून् भरतश्रेष्ठ शतकृत्वो महाद्युतिः ।
पूरयामास विधिवत् ततः ख्यातः शतक्रतुः ॥ ४ ॥
tān kratūn bharataśreṣṭha śatakṛtvo mahādyutiḥ |
pūrayāmāsa vidhivat tataḥ khyātaḥ śatakratuḥ || 4 ||
O foremost of the Bharatas, Indra, of great splendor, completed those hundred sacrifices in strict adherence to sacred rites, thus earning the renowned title of Śatakratu—'The Performer of a Hundred Sacrifices.'
तस्य नाम्ना च तत् तीर्थं शिवं पुण्यं सनातनम् ।
इन्द्रतीर्थमिति ख्यातं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् ॥ ५ ॥
tasya nāmnā ca tat tīrthaṃ śivaṃ puṇyaṃ sanātanam |
indratīrthamiti khyātaṃ sarvapāpapramocanam || 5 ||
That eternal and auspicious Tīrtha, sanctified by Indra’s name, came to be celebrated as Indra-Tīrtha—renowned as a sacred site that absolves all sins.
उपस्पृश्य च तत्रापि विधिवन्मुसलायुधः ।
ब्राह्मणान् पूजयित्वा च सदाच्छादनभोजनैः ॥ ६ ॥
शुभं तीर्थवरं तस्माद् रामतीर्थं जगाम ह ।
upaspṛśya ca tatrāpi vidhivanmusalāyudhaḥ |
brāhmaṇān pūjayitvā ca sadācchādanabhojanaiḥ || 6 ||
śubhaṃ tīrthavaraṃ tasmād rāmatīrthaṃ jagāma ha |
There too, the wielder of the plow, Balarāma, bathed with due ritual purity. He honored the Brahmanas with generous offerings of garments and sumptuous food, and from there, he proceeded to the most sacred site of Rāma-Tīrtha.
यत्र रामो महाभागो भार्गवः सुमहातपाः ॥ ७ ॥
असकृत् पृथिवीं जित्वा हतक्षत्रियपुङ्गवाम् ।
उपाध्यायं पुरस्कृत्य कश्यपं मुनिसत्तमम् ॥ ८ ॥
अयजद् वाजपेयेन सोऽश्वमेधशतेन च ।
प्रददौ दक्षिणां चैव पृथिवीं वै ससागराम् ॥ ९ ॥
yatra rāmo mahābhāgo bhārgavaḥ sumahātapāḥ || 7 ||
asakṛt pṛthivīṃ jitvā hatakṣatriyapuṅgavām |
upādhyāyaṃ puraskṛtya kaśyapaṃ munisattamam || 8 ||
ayajad vājapeyena so’śvamedhaśatena ca |
pradadau dakṣiṇāṃ caiva pṛthivīṃ vai sasāgarām || 9 ||
The illustrious Bhārgava Rāma, of immense austerities, had repeatedly conquered the Earth and annihilated the mightiest of Kṣatriyas.
Then, at that sacred site, under the guidance of the exalted sage Kaśyapa, he performed a Vajapeya sacrifice followed by a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices. As a sacrificial offering, he granted his preceptor the entire Earth, along with its vast oceans.
दत्त्वा च दानं विविधं नानारत्नसमन्वितम्।
सगोहस्तिकदासीकं साजावि गतवान् वनम् ॥ १० ॥
dattvā ca dānaṃ vividhaṃ nānāratnasamanvitam|
sagohastikadāsīkaṃ sājāvi gatavān vanam || 10 ||
Having made abundant gifts adorned with various kinds of precious gems, including cows, elephants, female servants, sheep, and goats, Rāma then withdrew into the forest, renouncing worldly grandeur.
पुण्ये तीर्थवरे तत्र देवब्रह्मर्षिसेविते ।
मुनीश्चैवाभिवाद्याथ यमुनातीर्थमागमत् ॥ ११॥
puṇye tīrthavare tatra devabrahmarṣisevite |
munīścaivābhivādyātha yamunātīrthamāgamat || 11||
At that sacred and foremost of Tīrthas, revered by gods and celestial sages, Baladeva, having duly honored the great ascetics, proceeded to the Tīrtha of Yamunā.
यत्रानयामास तदा राजसूयं महीपते ।
पुत्रोऽदितेर्महाभागो वरुणो वै सितप्रभः ।। १२ ।
yatrānayāmāsa tadā rājasūyaṃ mahīpate |
putro’ditermahābhāgo varuṇo vai sitaprabhaḥ || 12 |
O King, in that very Tīrtha, the highly blessed and radiant son of Aditi, Varuṇa, once performed the grand Rājasūya sacrifice.
तत्र निर्जित्य संग्रामे मानुषान् देवतास्तथा ।
वरं क्रतुं समाज वरुणः परवीरहा ॥ १३ ॥
तस्मिन् क्रतुवरे वृत्ते संग्रामः समजायत ।
देवानां दानवानां च त्रैलोक्यस्य भयावहः ॥ १४ ॥
tatra nirjitya saṃgrāme mānuṣān devatāstathā |
varaṃ kratuṃ samāja varuṇaḥ paravīrahā || 13 ||
tasmin kratuvare vṛtte saṃgrāmaḥ samajāyata |
devānāṃ dānavānāṃ ca trailokyasya bhayāvahaḥ || 14 ||
In that sacred site, Varuṇa, the slayer of enemy warriors, having vanquished both men and celestial beings in battle, conducted a most exalted sacrifice. However, as that grand sacrifice commenced, a dreadful war erupted between the gods and the Daityas, striking terror across the three worlds.
राजसूये क्रतुश्रेष्ठे निवृत्ते जनमेजय।
जायते सुमहाघोरः संग्रामः क्षत्रियान् प्रति ।। १५ ।
rājasūye kratuśreṣṭhe nivṛtte janamejaya|
jāyate sumahāghoraḥ saṃgrāmaḥ kṣatriyān prati || 15 |
O Janamejaya, upon the conclusion of that supreme Rājasūya sacrifice,a terrifying war broke out among the Kṣatriyas, fierce beyond measure.
तत्रापि लाङ्गली देव ऋषीनभ्यर्च्य पूजया ।
इतरेभ्योऽप्यदाद् दानमर्थिभ्यः कामदो विभुः ॥ १६ ॥
tatrāpi lāṅgalī deva ṛṣīnabhyarcya pūjayā |
itarebhyo’pyadād dānamarthibhyaḥ kāmado vibhuḥ || 16 ||
There too, the divine wielder of the plow, Baladeva, honored the sages with reverence. The mighty one, ever bestowing boons, generously gave wealth to all who sought it.
वनमाली ततो हृष्टः स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः ।
तस्मादादित्यतीर्थं च जगाम कमलेक्षणः ॥ १७ ॥
vanamālī tato hṛṣṭaḥ stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ |
tasmādādityatīrthaṃ ca jagāma kamalekṣaṇaḥ || 17 ||
Adorned with garlands of wildflowers, joyous and praised by great sages, Baladeva, the lotus-eyed one, then journeyed to the Tīrtha of Āditya.
यत्रेष्ट्वा भगवाञ्ज्योतिर्भास्करो राजसत्तम ।
ज्योतिषामाधिपत्यं च प्रभावं चाभ्यपद्यत ॥ १८ ॥
yatreṣṭvā bhagavāñjyotirbhāskaro rājasattama |
jyotiṣāmādhipatyaṃ ca prabhāvaṃ cābhyapadyata || 18 ||
O best of kings, at that sacred site, the resplendent Sun-God performed a great sacrifice, thereby attaining sovereignty over all luminous celestial bodies and his divine brilliance.
तस्या नद्यास्तु तीरे वै सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः ।
विश्वेदेवाः समरुतो गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्च ह ।
द्वैपायनः शुकश्चैव कृष्णश्च मधुसूदनः ।
यक्षाश्च राक्षसाश्चैव पिशाचाश्च विशाम्पते ॥ २० ॥
एते चान्ये च बहवो योगसिद्धाः सहस्रशः ।
तस्मिंस्तीर्थे सरस्वत्याः शिवे पुण्ये परंतप ॥ २१ ॥
तत्र हत्वा पुरा विष्णुरसुरौ मधुकैटभौ ।
आप्लुत्य भरतश्रेष्ठ तीर्थप्रवर उत्तमे ॥ २२ ॥
tasyā nadyāstu tīre vai sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ |
viśvedevāḥ samaruto gandharvāpsarasaśca ha |
dvaipāyanaḥ śukaścaiva kṛṣṇaśca madhusūdanaḥ |
yakṣāśca rākṣasāścaiva piśācāśca viśāmpate || 20 ||
ete cānye ca bahavo yogasiddhāḥ sahasraśaḥ |
tasmiṃstīrthe sarasvatyāḥ śive puṇye paraṃtapa || 21 ||
tatra hatvā purā viṣṇurasurau madhukaiṭabhau |
āplutya bharataśreṣṭha tīrthapravara uttame || 22 ||
On the sacred banks of that river resided all the gods, with Indra at their head, the Viśvedevas, the Maruts, the Gandharvas, and the celestial Apsaras. Also present were the island-born Vyāsa, his son Śuka, and Kṛṣṇa, the slayer of Madhu, as well as Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Piśācas, O king."
In that most sacred and auspicious Tīrtha of the Sarasvatī, dwelt thousands of great ascetics who had attained yogic perfection, O scorcher of foes.
O foremost of the Bharatas, in that supreme Tīrtha, Viṣṇu, in ancient times, slew the Asuras Madhu and Kaiṭabha and then sanctified himself by bathing in its sacred waters.
द्वैपायनच धर्मात्मा तत्रैवाप्लुत्य भारत ।
सम्प्राप्य परमं योगं सिद्धिं च परमां गतः ॥ २३॥
dvaipāyanaca dharmātmā tatraivāplutya bhārata |
samprāpya paramaṃ yogaṃ siddhiṃ ca paramāṃ gataḥ || 23||
O Bhārata, the righteous island-born sage Vyāsa bathed in that very Tīrtha and attained supreme yogic realization and ultimate perfection.
असितो देवलचैव तस्मिन्नेव महातपाः ।
परमं योगमास्थाय ऋषिर्योगमवाप्तवान् ॥ २४ ॥
asito devalacaiva tasminneva mahātapāḥ |
paramaṃ yogamāsthāya ṛṣiryogamavāptavān || 24 ||
In that very Tīrtha, the great ascetic Asita-Devala, absorbed in profound meditation, attained the highest state of yogic perfection.
Balarāma visited the sacred Indra-Tīrtha, where he bathed with due rites and offered wealth and gems to the Brahmanas. This Tīrtha had been sanctified by Indra, who performed a hundred grand sacrifices there, earning the title Śatakratu. The site became known for absolving all sins.
Balarāma then proceeded to Rāma-Tīrtha, where Bhārgava Rāma, after conquering the Earth and annihilating Kṣatriyas, performed a Vajapeya and a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices under Kaśyapa's guidance. Rāma gave the Earth to his preceptor and withdrew into the forest, renouncing worldly life.
At the Tīrtha of Yamunā, Balarāma honored sages and gave generous offerings. There, Varuṇa had performed a Rājasūya sacrifice after vanquishing powerful enemies. This led to a terrible war between gods and Daityas, and later among the Kṣatriyas.
Balarāma continued to the Tīrtha of Āditya, where the Sun-God had performed a great sacrifice and gained celestial sovereignty. On the banks of the Sarasvatī, many gods, sages, and beings were present, and there, Viṣṇu, Vyāsa, and Devala attained supreme yogic perfection.