Shloka 123
Tīrtha-yātrā: Prayāga-saṅgama and Gayaśiras—Rājarṣi Gaya’s Mahāyajña
अनुकीणर्णानि रक्षोभिस्तेभ्यो नस्त्रातुमरहसि । “महाबाहो! तपस्यामें विघ्न डालनेवाले बहुत-से राक्षस उन तीथ्थोंमें भरे पड़े हैं, उनसे आप हमारी रक्षा करनेमें समर्थ हैं'
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: anukīrṇāni rakṣobhis tebhyo nas trātum arhasi | “mahābāho! tapasyā me vighna ḍālne-vāle bahut-se rākṣasa un tīrthoṃ meṃ bhare paṛe haiṃ, unse āpa hamārī rakṣā karne meṃ samartha haiṃ”
Vaiśampāyana said: “Those sacred fords are infested with rākṣasas; you ought to protect us from them. O mighty-armed one, many demons who obstruct my austerities crowd those tīrthas—only you are capable of safeguarding us from them.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya-ethical duty to protect sacred spaces and ascetics: spiritual practice (tapas) must be safeguarded from disruptive forces, and strength is meant to serve dharma through protection.
A speaker appeals to a powerful hero addressed as “mahābāho,” stating that rākṣasas have overrun certain tīrthas and are obstructing austerities, and asks him to provide protection from these threats.