Shloka 132

Dhaumya’s Enumeration of Eastern Tīrthas

Prācī-diś Tīrtha-kathana

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरो5पि धर्मात्मा तमेवार्थ विचिन्तयन्‌ । तीर्थयात्राश्रितं पुण्यमृषीणां प्रत्यवेदयत्‌,धर्मात्मा युधिष्ठिने भी इसी विषयका चिन्तन करते हुए अपने पास रहनेवाले महर्षियोंसे तीर्थयात्रासम्बन्धी महान्‌ पुण्यके विषयमें निवेदन किया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | yudhiṣṭhiro 'pi dharmātmā tam evārthaṁ vicintayan | tīrthayātrāśritaṁ puṇyam ṛṣīṇāṁ pratyavedayat ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Yudhiṣṭhira too, steadfast in righteousness, kept reflecting on that very matter. While contemplating it, the dharma-minded king informed the sages staying with him about the great merit that arises from undertaking pilgrimages to sacred fords—seeking their counsel and affirmation in a way consistent with his ethical responsibility.

Word by Word

• {'vaiśampāyana uvāca': 'Vaiśampāyana said', 'yudhiṣṭhiraḥ': 'Yudhiṣṭhira (eldest Pāṇḍava)', 'api': 'also, too', 'dharmātmā': 'one whose very nature is dharma

• righteous-minded', 'tam eva': 'that very (same) [matter/topic]', 'arthaṁ': 'matter, purpose, issue under consideration', 'vicintayan': 'reflecting upon, pondering', 'tīrthayātrā': 'pilgrimage

• journey to sacred places/fords', 'āśritam': 'based on, connected with, resting upon', 'puṇyam': 'merit, sacred benefit, religious virtue', 'ṛṣīṇām': 'of/to the sages', 'pratyavedayat': 'reported, communicated, made known (respectfully)'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Ṛṣis (sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ethical action is strengthened by thoughtful reflection and consultation with the wise; pilgrimage is presented not merely as travel but as a dharmic practice believed to generate merit (puṇya) when undertaken with right intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira, absorbed in a particular concern, turns to the sages residing with him and speaks about the great religious merit associated with pilgrimage, effectively initiating or supporting a discussion on undertaking a tīrthayātrā.