Shloka 12

Tīrtha-yātrā: Prayāga-saṅgama and Gayaśiras—Rājarṣi Gaya’s Mahāyajña

Devanagari script

तीर्थानि हि महाबाहो तपोविघ्नकरै: सदा

Transliteration

tīrthāni hi mahābāho tapovighnakaraiḥ sadā

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O mighty-armed one, sacred pilgrimage places are, indeed, always frequented by those who create obstacles to ascetic practice.”

Word by Word

• तीर्थानि: holy places / pilgrim fords
• तीर्थानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तपोविघ्नकरैः: by (those) causing obstacles to austerity
• तपोविघ्नकरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपोविघ्नकर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• tīrthas (pilgrimage places)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse cautions that even holy places can attract disruptive influences; spiritual discipline (tapas) requires vigilance, discernment, and inner steadiness rather than relying solely on external sanctity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues his narration in the Vana Parva, remarking to the addressed hero that tīrthas are often visited by people who may hinder ascetic efforts—setting a tone of caution within a context involving pilgrimage, austerity, and the challenges faced by practitioners.