In this sacred narrative, Balarāma visits several tīrthas, including the site where Soma performed the Rājasūya sacrifice and the sage Sārasvata once taught the Vedas during a twelve-year drought. Sārasvata was miraculously born from the sage Dadhīci and the river Sarasvatī, who preserved his divine seed. Dadhīci later gave up his life so that the gods could forge celestial weapons from his bones to defeat the Daityas. Sustained by Sarasvatī during the drought, Sārasvata preserved the Vedic tradition when all other sages had forgotten it.
After the drought, the sages approached Sārasvata to relearn the Vedas. Though young, he insisted they accept him as their teacher, explaining that true wisdom is not based on age or status but on knowledge and right conduct. Sixty thousand sages became his disciples, restoring the Vedic tradition. Balarāma, after honoring this holy place and offering gifts, departed joyfully for another tīrtha.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
यत्रेजिवानुडुपती राजसूयेन भारत ।
तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महानासीत् संग्रामस्तारकामयः ॥ १ ॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca
yatrejivānuḍupatī rājasūyena bhārata |
tasmiṃstīrthe mahānāsīt saṃgrāmastārakāmayaḥ || 1 ||
Vaishampāyana said O Bhārata, in that sacred Tīrtha where the Moon-god (Soma) once performed the Rājasūya sacrifice, a great battle took place, known as the war of Tārakā’s desire.
तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य बले दत्त्वा दानानि चात्मवान् ।
सारस्वतस्य धर्मात्मा मुनेस्तीर्थं जगाम ह ॥ २ ॥
तत्र द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृशष्टया द्विजोत्तमान्।
वेदानध्यापयामास पुरा सारस्वतो मुनिः ॥३॥
tatrāpyupaspṛśya bale dattvā dānāni cātmavān |
sārasvatasya dharmātmā munestīrthaṃ jagāma ha || 2 ||
tatra dvādaśavārṣikyāmanāvṛśaṣṭayā dvijottamān|
vedānadhyāpayāmāsa purā sārasvato muniḥ ||3||
Having bathed in that sacred Tīrtha and made generous donations, Baladeva, the self-controlled one, then proceeded to the holy site of the sage Sārasvata.
During a twelve-year-long drought, the great sage Sārasvata, taught the Vedas to many foremost Brāhmaṇas in ancient times.
जनमेजय उवाच
कथं द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां द्विजोत्तमान्।
ऋषीनध्यापयामास पुरा सारस्वतो मुनिः || ४ ||
janamejaya uvāca
kathaṃ dvādaśavārṣikyāmanāvṛṣṭyāṃ dvijottamān|
ṛṣīnadhyāpayāmāsa purā sārasvato muniḥ || 4 ||
Janamejaya said "Why did the sage Sarasvat, O you of ascetic merit, teach the Vedas to the Rishis during that twelve-year drought?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
आसीत् पूर्वं महाराज मुनिर्धीमान् महातपाः ।
दधीच इति विख्यातो ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रियः ॥ ५ ॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca
āsīt pūrvaṃ mahārāja munirdhīmān mahātapāḥ |
dadhīca iti vikhyāto brahmacārī jitendriyaḥ || 5 ||
Vaishampāyana said O great king, there once lived an illustrious and intelligent sage, renowned as Dadhīci, who was a master of asceticism and self-restraint, leading the life of a dedicated Brahmachārī.
तस्यातितपसः शक्रो विभेति सततं विभो ।
न स लोभयितुं शक्यः फलैर्वहुविधैरपि ॥ ६ ॥
tasyātitapasaḥ śakro vibheti satataṃ vibho |
na sa lobhayituṃ śakyaḥ phalairvahuvidhairapi || 6 ||
Such was his extreme austerity that Śakra (Indra) constantly feared him. But not even the most lavish rewards could tempt him away from his penances.
प्रलोभनार्थं तस्याथ प्राहिणोत् पाकशासनः ।
दिव्यामप्सरसं पुण्यां दर्शनीयामलम्बुषाम् ॥ ७ ॥
pralobhanārthaṃ tasyātha prāhiṇot pākaśāsanaḥ |
divyāmapsarasaṃ puṇyāṃ darśanīyāmalambuṣām || 7 ||
In an attempt to distract him, the slayer of Vṛtra (Indra) sent the celestial nymph, the radiant and enchanting Alambuṣā.
तस्य तर्पयतो देवान् सरस्वत्यां महात्मनः ।
समीपतो महाराज सोऽपातिष्ठत भाविनी ॥ ८ ॥
tasya tarpayato devān sarasvatyāṃ mahātmanaḥ |
samīpato mahārāja so’pātiṣṭhata bhāvinī || 8 ||
While the great sage was engaged in worshiping the gods on the banks of the Sarasvatī, the celestial nymph approached him.
तां दिव्यवपुषं दृष्ट्वा तस्यर्षेर्भावितात्मनः ।
रेतः स्कन्नं सरस्वत्यां तत् सा जग्राह निम्नगा ॥। ९ ॥
tāṃ divyavapuṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā tasyarṣerbhāvitātmanaḥ |
retaḥ skannaṃ sarasvatyāṃ tat sā jagrāha nimnagā ||| 9 ||
Upon seeing her divine beauty, the sage’s seminal energy was involuntarily released. It fell into the sacred river Sarasvatī, which carefully preserved it.
कुक्षौ चाप्यदधद्धृष्टा तद् रेतः पुरुषर्षभ ।
सा दधार च तं गर्भं पुत्रहेतोर्महानदी ।। १० ।।
kukṣau cāpyadadhaddhṛṣṭā tad retaḥ puruṣarṣabha |
sā dadhāra ca taṃ garbhaṃ putrahetormahānadī || 10 ||
Reverently, the sacred river accepted that divine seed in her womb. In due course, it developed into a fetus, nurtured by the great Sarasvatī, so that it might one day be born as a remarkable being.
सुषुवे चापि समये पुत्रं सा सरितां वरा ।
जगाम पुत्रमादाय तमृषिं प्रति च प्रभो ॥ ११ ॥
suṣuve cāpi samaye putraṃ sā saritāṃ varā |
jagāma putramādāya tamṛṣiṃ prati ca prabho || 11 ||
When the time came, the foremost among rivers gave birth to the child. Taking him with her, she then approached the great sage, O lord.
ऋषिसंसदि तं दृष्ट्वा सा नदी मुनिसत्तमम् ।
ततः प्रोवाच राजेन्द्र ददती पुत्रमस्य तम् ॥ १२ ॥
ब्रह्मर्षे तव पुत्रोऽयं त्वद्भक्त्या धारितो मया ।
दृष्ट्रा तेऽप्सरसं रेतो यत् स्कन्नं प्रागलम्बुपाम् ॥ १३ ॥
तत् कुक्षिणा वै ब्रह्मर्षे त्वद्भक्त्या धृतवत्यहम्।
न विनाशमिदं गच्छेत् त्वत्तेज इति निश्चयात् ॥ १४॥
ṛṣisaṃsadi taṃ dṛṣṭvā sā nadī munisattamam |
tataḥ provāca rājendra dadatī putramasya tam || 12 ||
brahmarṣe tava putro’yaṃ tvadbhaktyā dhārito mayā |
dṛṣṭrā te’psarasaṃ reto yat skannaṃ prāgalambupām || 13 ||
tat kukṣiṇā vai brahmarṣe tvadbhaktyā dhṛtavatyaham|
na vināśamidaṃ gacchet tvatteja iti niścayāt || 14||
Upon seeing the great sage seated among other ascetics, the river, O king, with great reverence, placed the child before him and spoke these words: O Brahmarṣi, this is your son, whom I have nurtured out of devotion to you. When your seed fell upon seeing the celestial nymph Alambuṣā, I bore it within me, knowing well that your divine energy could never go to waste. I held this seed within my womb, O Brahmarṣi, out of devotion to you, firm in my resolve that your divine energy must not be lost."
प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रं स्वं मया दत्तमनिन्दितम्।
इत्युक्तः प्रतिजग्राह प्रीति चावाप पुष्कलाम् ॥ १५ ॥
pratigṛhṇīṣva putraṃ svaṃ mayā dattamaninditam|
ityuktaḥ pratijagrāha prīti cāvāpa puṣkalām || 15 ||
Accept, O sage, this sinless child whom I now return to you. Thus addressed, the Rishi received his son and was filled with immense joy.
स्वतं चाप्यजित् तं मूर्ध्नि प्रेम्णा द्विजोत्तमः ।
परिष्वज्यं चिरं कालं तदा भरतसत्तम ॥ १६ ॥
svataṃ cāpyajit taṃ mūrdhni premṇā dvijottamaḥ |
pariṣvajyaṃ ciraṃ kālaṃ tadā bharatasattama || 16 ||
With deep affection, the best of Brāhmaṇas lovingly placed his son upon his lap, smelling his head and embracing him tightly for a long time, O best of the Bhāratas.
सरस्वत्यै वरं प्रादात् प्रीयमाणो महामुनिः ।
विश्वेदेवा सपितरो गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः ॥ १७ ॥
तृप्तिं यास्यन्ति सुभगे तर्प्यमाणास्तवाम्भसा ।
sarasvatyai varaṃ prādāt prīyamāṇo mahāmuniḥ |
viśvedevā sapitaro gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ || 17 ||
tṛptiṃ yāsyanti subhage tarpyamāṇāstavāmbhasā |
Filled with joy, the great sage Dadhīci granted a boon to Sarasvatī: ‘O blessed one, from now on, the Viśvedevas, the Pitṛs, and the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarās shall find great satisfaction when oblations of your sacred waters are offered to them.’
इत्युक्त्वा स तु तुष्टाव वचोभिर्वै महानदीम् ॥ १८ ॥
प्रीतः परमहृष्टात्मा यथावच्छृणु पार्थिव ।
ityuktvā sa tu tuṣṭāva vacobhirvai mahānadīm || 18 ||
prītaḥ paramahṛṣṭātmā yathāvacchṛṇu pārthiva |
Having thus spoken, the sage, overflowing with joy, praised the great river with divine words. Listen, O king, to the sacred hymn he uttered.
प्रन्नुतासि महाभागे सरसो ब्रह्मणः पुरा ॥ १९ ॥
जानान्ति त्वां सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे मनुयः संशितव्रताः ।
prannutāsi mahābhāge saraso brahmaṇaḥ purā || 19 ||
jānānti tvāṃ saricchreṣṭhe manuyaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ |
O most blessed one, you were praised by Brahman himself in ancient times. O foremost of rivers, those ascetics who adhere to strict vows recognize your divinity.
मम प्रियकरी चापि सततं प्रियदर्शने ॥ २० ॥
तस्मात् सारस्वत: पुत्रो महांस्ते वरवर्णिनि ।
mama priyakarī cāpi satataṃ priyadarśane || 20 ||
tasmāt sārasvata: putro mahāṃste varavarṇini |
O fair one, you have always been dear to me, bringing me great blessings. Therefore, your noble son shall be known by the illustrious name ‘Sārasvata’.
तवैव नाम्ना प्रथितः पुत्रस्ते लोकभावनः ॥ २१ ॥
सारस्वत इति ख्यातो भविष्यति महातपाः ।
tavaiva nāmnā prathitaḥ putraste lokabhāvanaḥ || 21 ||
sārasvata iti khyāto bhaviṣyati mahātapāḥ |
Your son, O sacred river, will become renowned by your very name. That great ascetic, capable of sustaining the worlds, shall be known as Sārasvata.
एष द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां द्विजर्षभान् ॥ २२ ॥
सारस्वतो महाभागे वेदानध्यापयिष्यति ।
eṣa dvādaśavārṣikyāmanāvṛṣṭyāṃ dvijarṣabhān || 22 ||
sārasvato mahābhāge vedānadhyāpayiṣyati |
During the twelve-year drought, O blessed one, this son of yours, Sārasvata, shall impart the sacred Vedas to many exalted Brāhmaṇas, preserving their divine wisdom.
पुण्याभ्यश्च सरिद्भयस्त्वं सदा पुण्यतमा शुभे ॥ २३ ॥
भविष्यसि महाभागे मत्प्रसादात् सरस्वति ।
puṇyābhyaśca saridbhayastvaṃ sadā puṇyatamā śubhe || 23 ||
bhaviṣyasi mahābhāge matprasādāt sarasvati |
And, O auspicious one, among all sacred rivers, you shall forever be the holiest, O purest Sarasvatī, blessed by my divine grace.
एवं सा संस्तुताऽनेन वरं लब्ध्वा महानदी ॥ २४ ॥
पुत्रमादाय मुदिता जगाम भरतर्षभ ।
evaṃ sā saṃstutā’nena varaṃ labdhvā mahānadī || 24 ||
putramādāya muditā jagāma bharatarṣabha |
Thus extolled and granted divine boons, Sarasvatī, the sacred river, filled with joy, took her blessed son and departed, O best of the Bhāratas.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु विरोधे देवदानवैः ॥ २५ ॥
शक्रः प्रहरणान्वेषी लोकांस्त्रीन् विचचार ह।
etasminneva kāle tu virodhe devadānavaiḥ || 25 ||
śakraḥ praharaṇānveṣī lokāṃstrīn vicacāra ha|
Meanwhile, amidst a mighty war between the gods and the Dānavas, Śakra, the divine ruler of the heavens, traversed the three worlds in search of celestial weapons.
न चोपलेभे भगवाञ्छक्रः प्रहरणं तदा ॥ २६॥
यद्वैतेषां भवेद् योग्यं वधाय विबुधद्विपाम् ।
na copalebhe bhagavāñchakraḥ praharaṇaṃ tadā || 26||
yadvaiteṣāṃ bhaved yogyaṃ vadhāya vibudhadvipām |
But nowhere did the great Indra find weapons, fitting to annihilate the foes of the gods, that could strike down those mighty asuras.
ततोऽब्रवीत् सुराञ्शको न मे शक्या महासुराः ॥। २७ ॥
ऋस्थिभिर्दधीचस्य निहन्तुं त्रिदशद्विषः ।
tato’bravīt surāñśako na me śakyā mahāsurāḥ ||| 27 ||
ṛsthibhirdadhīcasya nihantuṃ tridaśadviṣaḥ |
Shakra told the gods, "No weapon shall suffice against these mighty asuras! Only with the bones of Dadhīci can I destroy the gods' enemies."
तस्माद् गत्वा ऋषिश्रेष्ठो याच्यतां सुरसत्तमाः ॥ २८ ॥
दधीचास्थीनि देहीति तैर्वधिष्यामहे रिपून् ।
tasmād gatvā ṛṣiśreṣṭho yācyatāṃ surasattamāḥ || 28 ||
dadhīcāsthīni dehīti tairvadhiṣyāmahe ripūn |
Thus, O foremost of celestials, go forth to that exalted sage, and beseech him for his sacred bones, saying—'Grant us, O Dadhīci, your mortal frame, that we may forge from it a weapon of celestial flame!'
स च तैर्याचितोऽस्थीनि यत्नादृषिवरस्तदा ।। २९ ॥
प्राणत्यागं कुरुश्रेष्ठ चकारैवाविचारयन् ।
स लोकानक्षयान् प्राप्तो देवप्रियकरस्तदा ॥ ३० ॥
sa ca tairyācito’sthīni yatnādṛṣivarastadā || 29 ||
prāṇatyāgaṃ kuruśreṣṭha cakāraivāvicārayan |
sa lokānakṣayān prāpto devapriyakarastadā || 30 ||
Thus implored by the celestial hosts, the great sage Dadhīci, without hesitation, sacrificed his life for their cause, undaunted, unwavering in his divine resolve.
Bestowing his mortal form upon the gods, that selfless sage, beloved of the heavens, ascended to the eternal realms, his sacrifice securing his immortal name.
तस्यास्थिभिरथो शक्रः समप्रहृष्टमनास्तदा ।
कारयामास दिव्यानि नानाप्रहरणानि च ॥ ३१ ॥
गदावज्राणि चक्राणि गुरून् दण्डांश्च पुष्कलान्।
tasyāsthibhiratho śakraḥ samaprahṛṣṭamanāstadā |
kārayāmāsa divyāni nānāpraharaṇāni ca || 31 ||
gadāvajrāṇi cakrāṇi gurūn daṇḍāṃśca puṣkalān|
With the bones of Dadhīci, Indra, filled with elation, forged divine weapons of celestial creation. Maces, thunderbolts, and mighty blades, discs and bludgeons of heavy shades..
स हि तीव्रेण तपसा सम्भृतः परमर्षिणा ॥ ३२ ॥
प्रजापतिसुतेनाथ भृगुणा लोकभावनः ।
अतिकाय: स तेजस्वी लोकसारो विनिर्मितः ॥ ३३ ॥
जज्ञे शैलगुरुः प्रांशुर्महिम्ना प्रथितः प्रभुः ।
नित्यमुद्विजते चास्य तेजसः पाकशासनः ॥ ३४ ॥
sa hi tīvreṇa tapasā sambhṛtaḥ paramarṣiṇā || 32 ||
prajāpatisutenātha bhṛguṇā lokabhāvanaḥ |
atikāya: sa tejasvī lokasāro vinirmitaḥ || 33 ||
jajñe śailaguruḥ prāṃśurmahimnā prathitaḥ prabhuḥ |
nityamudvijate cāsya tejasaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ || 34 ||
He was created by the intense penance of the great sage Bhrigu, the illustrious son of Rajāpati, a sage devoted to the welfare of all beings. Possessing a massive and radiant body, Dadhīci was formed as the very essence of strength in the universe. He emerged as towering as the lord of mountains, renowned for his immeasurable power. So formidable was his energy that Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, was perpetually fearful of his might.
तेन वज्रेण भगवान् मन्त्रयुक्तेन भारत ।
भृशं क्रोधविसृष्टेन ब्रह्मतेजोद्भवेन च ॥ ३५ ॥
दैत्यदानववीराणां जघान नवतीर्नव।
tena vajreṇa bhagavān mantrayuktena bhārata |
bhṛśaṃ krodhavisṛṣṭena brahmatejodbhavena ca || 35 ||
daityadānavavīrāṇāṃ jaghāna navatīrnava|
With the thunderbolt forged from Dadhīci's bones, charged with divine mantras, and infused with Brahma’s spiritual radiance, the mighty Indra, O Bharata, unleashed it with boundless fury, and with its tremendous force, he slew ninety-nine formidable warriors among the Daityas and Dānavas.
अथ काले व्यतिक्रान्ते महत्यतिभयंकारे ॥ ३६ ॥
अनावृष्टिरनुप्राप्ता राजन् द्वादशवार्षिकी।
तस्यां द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां महर्षयः ॥ ३७ ॥
वृत्यर्थं प्राद्रवन् राजन् क्षुधार्ता: सर्वतोदिशम् ।
atha kāle vyatikrānte mahatyatibhayaṃkāre || 36 ||
anāvṛṣṭiranuprāptā rājan dvādaśavārṣikī|
tasyāṃ dvādaśavārṣikyāmanāvṛṣṭyāṃ maharṣayaḥ || 37 ||
vṛtyarthaṃ prādravan rājan kṣudhārtā: sarvatodiśam |
After the passage of time, a dreadful calamity befell the land, a great drought arose, O king, lasting for twelve long years. During that period of unceasing dryness, the great sages, afflicted by hunger, scattered in all directions, seeking sustenance to preserve their lives.
दिग्भ्यस्तान् प्रद्रुतान् दृष्ट्वा मुनिः सारस्वतस्तदा ।। ३८ ।।
गमनाय मतिं चक्रे तं प्रोवाच सरस्वती ।
न गन्तव्यमितः पुत्र तवाहारमहं सदा ॥ ३९ ॥
दास्यामि मत्स्यप्रवरानुष्यतामिह भारत ।
digbhyastān pradrutān dṛṣṭvā muniḥ sārasvatastadā || 38 ||
gamanāya matiṃ cakre taṃ provāca sarasvatī |
na gantavyamitaḥ putra tavāhāramahaṃ sadā || 39 ||
dāsyāmi matsyapravarānuṣyatāmiha bhārata |
Witnessing the sages disperse in all directions, the sage Sārasvata contemplated leaving as well. Then the sacred river Sarasvatī spoke to him, saying: "O my son, you need not depart from here, for I shall always provide you with food. I will grant you the finest fish, stay here, O Bharata, and endure this drought in my embrace.
इत्युक्तस्तर्पयामास स पितॄन् देवतास्तथा ॥ ४० ॥
आहारमकरोन्नित्यं प्राणान् वेदांश्च धारयन् ।
ityuktastarpayāmāsa sa pitṝn devatāstathā || 40 ||
āhāramakaronnityaṃ prāṇān vedāṃśca dhārayan |
Thus assured by Sarasvatī’s words, the sage Sārasvata remained and continued to sustain himself. With the nourishment he received, he daily performed offerings to his ancestors and the gods, preserving both his life and the sacred knowledge of the Vedas.
अथ तस्यामनावृष्ट्यामतीतायां महर्षयः ॥ ४१ ॥
अन्योन्यं परिपप्रच्छुः पुनः स्वाध्यायकारणात्।
atha tasyāmanāvṛṣṭyāmatītāyāṃ maharṣayaḥ || 41 ||
anyonyaṃ paripapracchuḥ punaḥ svādhyāyakāraṇāt|
When the twelve-year drought finally ended, the great sages, once again united, began to question one another regarding the study and recitation of the Vedas.
तेषां क्षुधापरीतानां नष्टा वेदाऽभिधावताम् ॥४२॥
सर्वेषामेव राजेन्द्र न कश्चित् प्रतिभानवान् ।
teṣāṃ kṣudhāparītānāṃ naṣṭā vedā’bhidhāvatām ||42||
sarveṣāmeva rājendra na kaścit pratibhānavān |
As they wandered in hunger, their minds clouded by starvation, the Rishis lost their recollection of the Vedas, O king. Not one among them had the ability to recite or interpret them.
अथ कश्चिदृषिस्तेषां सारस्वतमुपेयिवान्॥ ४३ ॥
कुर्वाणं संशितात्मानं स्वाध्यायमृषिसत्तमम् ।
स गत्वाऽऽचष्ट तेभ्यश्च सारस्वतमतिप्रभम् ॥४४॥
स्वाध्यायममरप्रख्यं कुर्वाणं विजने वने।
atha kaścidṛṣisteṣāṃ sārasvatamupeyivān|| 43 ||
kurvāṇaṃ saṃśitātmānaṃ svādhyāyamṛṣisattamam |
sa gatvā’’caṣṭa tebhyaśca sārasvatamatiprabham ||44||
svādhyāyamamaraprakhyaṃ kurvāṇaṃ vijane vane|
One of those sages, by chance, encountered Sarasvata, that self-disciplined ascetic, deeply immersed in study. Returning to his fellow Rishis, he described what he had seen—Sarasvata, radiant like a celestial, engaged in deep recitation of the Vedas in a secluded forest.
ततः सर्वे समाजग्मुस्तत्र राजन् महर्षयः ॥ ४५ ॥
सारस्वतं मुनिश्रेष्ठमिदमूचुः समागताः ।
अस्मानध्यापयस्वेति तानुवाच ततो मुनिः ॥४६॥
शिष्यत्वमुपगच्छध्वं विधिवद्धि ममेत्युत ।
tataḥ sarve samājagmustatra rājan maharṣayaḥ || 45 ||
sārasvataṃ muniśreṣṭhamidamūcuḥ samāgatāḥ |
asmānadhyāpayasveti tānuvāca tato muniḥ ||46||
śiṣyatvamupagacchadhvaṃ vidhivaddhi mametyuta |
Hearing this, all the great sages, united in purpose, made their way to where Sarasvata resided, O King. They approached that foremost of ascetics and said: "Teach us, O revered one, restore to us the sacred knowledge!"
Sarasvata replied, "If you wish to learn from me, you must accept me as your teacher, duly submitting to the disciple’s vow.
तत्राब्रुवन् मुनिगणा बालस्त्वमसि पुत्रक ॥ ४७॥
सतानाह न मे धर्मो नश्येदिति पुनर्मुनीन् ।
tatrābruvan munigaṇā bālastvamasi putraka || 47||
satānāha na me dharmo naśyediti punarmunīn |
The assembly of sages objected, saying, "O child, you are too young to be our teacher!" But Sarasvata answered with conviction: "I must ensure that my dharma is upheld, sacred knowledge does not perish and my religious merit may not suffer a decrease."
धर्मेण वै ब्रूयाद् गृह्णीयाद् योऽप्यधर्मतः ॥ ४८ ॥
हीयेतां तावुभौ क्षिप्तं स्यातां वा वैरिणावुभौ ।
dharmeṇa vai brūyād gṛhṇīyād yo’pyadharmataḥ || 48 ||
hīyetāṃ tāvubhau kṣiptaṃ syātāṃ vā vairiṇāvubhau |
One should teach in accordance with dharma, and one should learn in accordance with dharma. He who teaches improperly and he who learns improperly are both doomed to destruction and mutual hatred.
न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तेन न बन्धुभिः ॥ ४९ ॥
ऋषयश्चक्रिरे धर्मं योऽनूचानः स नो महान् ।
na hāyanairna palitairna vittena na bandhubhiḥ || 49 ||
ṛṣayaścakrire dharmaṃ yo’nūcānaḥ sa no mahān |
Age does not determine wisdom, nor do gray hairs, wealth, or lineage. The Rishis declared that only he who truly understands, and teaches with sincerity, is worthy of being called great.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य मुनयस्ते विधानतः ॥ ५० ॥
तस्माद् वेदाननुप्राप्य पुनधर्मं प्रचक्रिरे।
etacchrutvā vacastasya munayaste vidhānataḥ || 50 ||
tasmād vedānanuprāpya punadharmaṃ pracakrire|
Hearing these wise words, the sages accepted him as their teacher, and from him, they regained the lost knowledge of the Vedas. Thus, with their wisdom restored, they resumed the practice of dharma.
षष्टिर्मुनिसहस्राणि शिष्यत्वं प्रतिपेदिरे ॥ ५१ ॥
सारस्वतस्य विप्रर्षेर्वेदस्वाध्यायकारणात्।
ṣaṣṭirmunisahasrāṇi śiṣyatvaṃ pratipedire || 51 ||
sārasvatasya viprarṣervedasvādhyāyakāraṇāt|
Sixty thousand ascetics, recognizing Sarasvata’s divine wisdom, became his disciples, O noble sage, to once again study and preserve the sacred Vedas.
मुष्टिं मुष्टिं ततः सर्वे दर्भाणां ते पाहरन् ।
तस्यासनार्थं विप्रर्षेर्बालस्यापि वशे स्थिताः ॥ ५२ ॥
muṣṭiṃ muṣṭiṃ tataḥ sarve darbhāṇāṃ te pāharan |
tasyāsanārthaṃ viprarṣerbālasyāpi vaśe sthitāḥ || 52 ||
Then, all those ascetics plucked handfuls of darbha grass and laid them down, to make a seat for that young yet revered Brahmarshi, abiding humbly under his authority.
तत्रापि दत्त्वा वसु रौहिणेयो
महावल : केशवपूर्वजोऽथ ।
जगाम तीर्थं मुदितः क्रमेण
ख्यातं महद् वृद्धकन्या स्म यत्र ॥ ५३ ॥
tatrāpi dattvā vasu rauhiṇeyo
mahāvala : keśavapūrvajo’tha |
jagāma tīrthaṃ muditaḥ krameṇa
khyātaṃ mahad vṛddhakanyā sma yatra || 53 ||
There too, having distributed wealth, Bāladeva, the mighty one, son of Rohinī and the elder brother of Keshava, then joyfully proceeded in order, to the great Tīrtha, renowned as the place where the aged maiden once lived.
Balarāma visited Indra’s Tīrtha, where Soma once performed a Rājasūya sacrifice and where a great battle occurred. He bathed and made offerings, then visited the Tīrtha of sage Sārasvata. During a twelve-year drought in ancient times, Sārasvata taught the Vedas to many Brāhmaṇas. This sage was the son of Dadhīci, whose semen, released involuntarily upon seeing the celestial nymph Alambuṣā, was preserved by the river Sarasvatī, who later presented the child to Dadhīci. The sage joyfully accepted his son, naming him Sārasvata, and blessed the river.
Dadhīci later sacrificed his life at the request of the gods so his bones could be used to forge divine weapons against the asuras. Indra crafted weapons like the thunderbolt from them and used these to slay many Daityas. Dadhīci had been created by the sage Bhrigu with immense power, and his sacrifice secured his eternal fame. During a later great drought, many sages dispersed in search of food, but Sārasvata remained by the Sarasvatī river, nourished by its fish and sustained in both life and sacred duty.
When the drought ended, the dispersed sages returned but had forgotten the Vedas due to starvation. One among them found Sārasvata still reciting and studying the Vedas. The sages approached him to relearn the sacred texts. Though they hesitated to accept someone so young as a teacher, Sārasvata insisted on proper guru-disciple conduct. He explained that wisdom is not based on age or lineage, but on true understanding and sincere transmission of knowledge.
Convinced by his words, the sages accepted Sārasvata as their teacher. Sixty thousand ascetics became his disciples to restore the Vedas. They honored him by placing darbha grass for his seat and humbly submitted to his instruction. Balarāma, after honoring this sacred site and distributing wealth, proceeded to another Tīrtha, associated with an aged maiden of former times.