Shloka 12

Devanagari script

वेदाहरणकार्येण तीर्थस्नानाय च प्रभो अटन्ति वसुधां विप्राः पृथिवीदर्शनाय च

Transliteration

vedāharaṇakāryeṇa tīrthasnānāya ca prabho aṭanti vasudhāṃ viprāḥ pṛthivīdarśanāya ca

Translation

O Lord, brahmanas wander across the earth—sometimes to recover and preserve the Veda, sometimes to bathe at sacred tīrthas, and also to behold the world in its true expanse.

Word by Word

• वेदाहरणकार्येण: for the task of bringing (recovering) the Vedas
• वेदाहरणकार्येण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + आहरण (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वेदानाम् आहरणस्य कार्यम्)

• तीर्थस्नानाय: for bathing at sacred fords
• तीर्थस्नानाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थे स्नानम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अटन्ति: wander
• अटन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अट् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वसुधाम्: the earth
• वसुधाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• पृथिवीदर्शनाय: for seeing the world
• पृथिवीदर्शनाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (प्रयोजन), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पृथिव्याः दर्शनम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Reasons for brahmanas’ wandering—Veda-preservation, tīrtha-bathing, and seeing the earth to understand dharma broadly.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: inquiring

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmanas travel for dharma’s maintenance—protecting Vedic transmission, purifying through tīrthas, and widening discernment by seeing the world.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Undertake purposeful travel: study and preserve wisdom traditions, visit sacred places for inner cleansing, and cultivate broad-minded understanding of people and duties.

Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge and purity are pursued within the real world as service to the Lord’s order—Veda as authoritative means and tīrtha as sanctifying aid.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas (Vipras)
• Veda
• Tirthas (sacred places)

FAQs

What is the significance of pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames pilgrimage as a dharmic duty: learned brahmanas travel for sacred bathing and to witness the world, reinforcing purity and right understanding of dharma across Vishnu’s ordered creation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the purpose of brahmana travel?

Parāśara presents multiple aims—protecting or restoring Vedic knowledge, performing tīrtha-snāna, and observing the earth—showing that movement itself can serve preservation of revelation and social-spiritual order.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By addressing the Lord and describing dharmic practices that sustain the world, the verse implies Vishnu’s sovereignty as the ground of order: Veda, tīrthas, and dharma function within His cosmic governance.