Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

भवत्प्रसादाद्धि वयं प्राप्रुयाम सुखं फलम्‌ | तीर्थानां पृथिवीपाल वनानां च विशाम्पते,'भूपाल! प्रजानाथ! आपके प्रसादसे हमलोग भी उन तीर्थों और वनोंकी यात्राका फल अनायास ही पा लेंगे

Transliteration

bhavatprasādād dhi vayaṁ prāpnuyāma sukhaṁ phalam | tīrthānāṁ pṛthivīpāla vanānāṁ ca viśāmpate ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “By your gracious favor, O protector of the earth, O lord of the people, we too shall easily obtain the happy fruit that comes from visiting sacred fords and forest holy places.”

Word by Word

भवत्of you (your)

प्रसादात्from (your) favor/grace

हिindeed/for

वयम्we

प्राप्नुयामmay obtain/should obtain

सुखम्ease; readily

फलम्fruit/result

तीर्थानाम्of the sacred places (tirthas)

पृथिवीपालO protector of the earth (king)

वनानाम्of the forests

चand

विशाम्of the people/subjects

पतेO lord

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

pṛthivīpāla (a king, addressed)

viśāmpati (lord of the people, addressed)

tīrtha (sacred places of pilgrimage)

vana (forests/forest holy places)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that righteous patronage and benevolent support from a king can enable others to gain the spiritual merit of sacred acts (like pilgrimage). It underscores the ethical ideal of kingship: a ruler’s favor should facilitate dharma and the welfare of dependents.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, narrating the story, voices a respectful address to a king, stating that by the king’s gracious assistance they will obtain—without hardship—the auspicious fruit associated with visiting tīrthas and holy forests.