Shloka 4
Secondary Creation Begins: Brahmā’s Productions, the Guṇas, and the Emergence of Orders of Beings
किमन्वपृच्छन्मैत्रेयं विरजास्तीर्थसेवया । उपगम्य कुशावर्त आसीनं तत्त्ववित्तमम् ॥ ४ ॥
kim anvapṛcchan maitreyaṁ virajās tīrtha-sevayā upagamya kuśāvarta āsīnaṁ tattva-vittamam
तीर्थ-सेवा से रजोगुण से शुद्ध हुए विदुर अंत में कुशावर्त (हरिद्वार) पहुँचे। वहाँ तत्त्व-विज्ञ महर्षि मैत्रेय को आसन पर बैठे देखकर उन्होंने उनसे प्रश्न किया—फिर विदुर ने उनसे क्या-क्या पूछा?
Here the words virajās tīrtha-sevayā refer to Vidura, who was completely cleansed of all contamination by traveling to places of pilgrimage. In India there are hundreds of sacred places of pilgrimage, of which Prayāga, Hardwar, Vṛndāvana and Rāmeśvaram are considered principal. After leaving his home, which was full of politics and diplomacy, Vidura wanted to purify himself by traveling to all the sacred places, which are so situated that anyone who goes there automatically becomes purified. This is especially true in Vṛndāvana; any person may go there, and even if he is sinful he will at once contact an atmosphere of spiritual life and will automatically chant the names of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā. That we have actually seen and experienced. It is recommended in the śāstras that after retiring from active life and accepting the vānaprastha (retired) order, one should travel everywhere to places of pilgrimage in order to purify himself. Vidura completely discharged this duty, and at last he reached Kuśāvarta, or Hardwar, where the sage Maitreya was sitting.
FAQs
This verse links tīrtha-sevā with eligibility for genuine spiritual inquiry—service to a sacred place purifies one’s approach when seeking truth from a realized sage.
Because Maitreya is described as tattva-vittama, the foremost knower of truth; Kuśāvarta approaches him respectfully to ask about the profound topics being discussed (creation and related truths).
Purify your intent through sincere practice and service, then approach authentic teachers with humility and thoughtful questions rather than casual curiosity.