Shloka 68
Brāhmaṇya-प्रश्नः — The Inquiry into Attaining Brāhmaṇya
Mataṅga–Gardabhī Itihāsa
यह तीर्थ-सेवनका कार्य परम पवित्र, पुण्यप्रद, स्वर्गकी प्राप्तिका सर्वोत्तम साधन और वेदोंका गुप्त रहस्य है। प्रत्येक तीर्थ पावन और स्नानके योग्य होता है ।।
idaṃ dadyād dvijātīnāṃ sādhōr ātma-hitasya ca | suhṛdāṃ ca japet karṇe śiṣyasyānugatasya ca ||
ତୀର୍ଥସେବନର ଏହି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପରମ ପାବନ, ପୁଣ୍ୟପ୍ରଦ, ସ୍ୱର୍ଗଲାଭର ଅନୁତ୍ତମ ସାଧନ ଏବଂ ବେଦମାନଙ୍କର ଗୁପ୍ତ ରହସ୍ୟ; ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ତୀର୍ଥ ପବିତ୍ର ଓ ସ୍ନାନଯୋଗ୍ୟ। ଏହି ତୀର୍ଥମାହାତ୍ମ୍ୟକୁ ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନଙ୍କୁ, ଆତ୍ମହିତକାମୀ ସାଧୁଜନକୁ, ସୁହୃଦମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏବଂ ଶାସନାନୁଗତ ଶିଷ୍ୟର କାନରେ ମାତ୍ର ଗୋପନରେ ଜପି କହିବା ଉଚିତ।
अजड्रिय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the ‘tīrtha-māhātmya’ (the sacred doctrine of pilgrimage and its purifying power) is to be transmitted with discretion—shared only with qualified recipients (twice-born, virtuous seekers, trusted friends, and obedient disciples), privately and reverently, as a guarded sacred knowledge.
A speaker is describing the sanctity and spiritual efficacy of visiting pilgrimage places and bathing there, while also prescribing the proper protocol for teaching this subject: it should be conveyed confidentially (as a whispered recitation) to select, worthy listeners rather than broadcast indiscriminately.