Shloka 20
दक्षिणदिशि तीर्थवर्णनम्
Southern Tīrthas: Godāvarī to Dvāravatī
विविधानाश्रमान् कांश्रिद् द्विजातिभ्य: प्रतिश्रुतान् । सरांसि सरितश्नैव रमणीयांश्व॒ पर्वतान्
vividhān āśramān kāṁścid dvijātibhyaḥ pratiśrutān | sarāṁsi saritaś caiva ramaṇīyāṁś ca parvatān ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Ele apontou diversos eremitérios—alguns prometidos ou destinados aos dvija, os “duas-vezes-nascidos”—bem como lagos e rios, e também montanhas encantadoras. A narração enfatiza o cuidadoso respeito aos compromissos com os eruditos e o mapeamento reverente de paisagens sagradas, sustentadoras da vida.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through fidelity to one’s pledges—especially obligations made toward the initiated and learned (dvijas)—and frames the natural and sacred landscape (āśramas, waters, mountains) as worthy of reverence and careful stewardship.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a description of the terrain and holy sites: various hermitages (including those designated or promised to dvijas), together with lakes, rivers, and pleasing mountains, are being indicated or enumerated as part of the journey and setting in the forest.