Shloka 4
Tīrtha-yātrā: Prayāga-saṅgama and Gayaśiras—Rājarṣi Gaya’s Mahāyajña
श्वापदेरुपसृष्टानि दुर्गाणि विषमाणि च । अगम्यानि नरैरल्पैस्तीर्थानि मनुजेश्वर,“मनुजेश्वर! वे सभी तीर्थ हिंसक जन्तुओंसे भरे पड़े हैं। दुर्गण और विषम भी हैं। थोड़े से मनुष्य वहाँकी यात्रा नहीं कर सकते
śvāpader upasṛṣṭāni durgāṇi viṣamāṇi ca | agamyāni narair alpais tīrthāni manujeśvara ||
“Wahai penguasa manusia, tīrtha-tīrtha itu dipenuhi binatang buas; jalannya sukar dan berbahaya. Dengan rombongan yang kecil, tidak mudah untuk mencapainya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes prudent discernment in dharmic pursuits: even sacred goals like visiting tīrthas require practical planning, adequate support, and attention to safety; righteousness is not served by reckless endangerment.
Vaiśampāyana reports a warning addressed to a king: the pilgrimage sites and routes are overrun by dangerous animals and the terrain is difficult, so a small party of men cannot easily reach them.