Shloka 116
Tīrtha-yātrā: Prayāga-saṅgama and Gayaśiras—Rājarṣi Gaya’s Mahāyajña
कुरु क्षिप्रं वचो5स्माकं तत: श्रेयोडभिपत्स्यसे । “महीपाल! प्रभास आदि तीथर्थों, महेन्द्र आदि पर्वतों, गंगा आदि नदियों तथा प्लक्ष आदि वृक्षोंका हम आपके साथ दर्शन करना चाहते हैं। जनेश्वर! यदि आपके मनमें ब्राह्मणोंके प्रति कुछ प्रेम है तो आप हमारी बात शीघ्र मान लीजिये; इससे आपका कल्याण होगा
kuru kṣipraṃ vaco ’smākaṃ tataḥ śreyo ’bhipatsyase |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Tunaikanlah permintaan kami dengan segera; maka engkau akan mencapai manfaat yang sebenar. Wahai pelindung bumi, kami ingin bersama-sama denganmu menziarahi tīrtha suci bermula dari Prabhāsa, gunung-ganang bermula dari Mahendra, sungai-sungai bermula dari Gaṅgā, dan pohon-pohon suci bermula dari Plakṣa. Wahai tuan manusia, jika di hatimu ada kasih walau sedikit terhadap para brāhmaṇa, terimalah permohonan kami tanpa berlengah—di situlah terletak kesejahteraanmu.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s welfare (śreyas) is linked to prompt, respectful responsiveness to brāhmaṇas and to dharmic acts such as accompanying them to sacred places; honoring spiritual counsel is presented as a source of lasting good.
The speaker urges a king to comply quickly with a request: to accompany them in visiting renowned tīrthas, mountains, rivers, and sacred trees—beginning with Prabhāsa, Mahendra, Gaṅgā, and Plakṣa—framing the request as a test of his regard for brāhmaṇas and as beneficial for him.