Shloka 5

Adharma’s Short-Lived Prosperity and the Restorative Path of Tīrtha (लोमश–युधिष्ठिर संवादः)

Devanagari script

भवता चानुगुप्तोडसौ चरेत्‌ तीर्थानि सर्वश: । रक्षोभ्यो रक्षितव्यश्न दुर्गेषु विषमेषु च

Transliteration

bhavatā cānugupto 'sau caret tīrthāni sarvaśaḥ | rakṣobhyo rakṣitavyaś ca durgeṣu viṣameṣu ca ||

Translation

“నీ రక్షణలో ఉండి అతడు అన్ని తీర్థాలలో ఎక్కడికైనా సంచరించుగాక. దుర్గమమైన, ప్రమాదకరమైన ప్రాంతాలలో రాక్షసుల నుండి అతడిని తప్పక కాపాడాలి.”

Word by Word

भवताby you

चand

अनुगुप्तःprotected/guarded

असौthat (person)

चरेत्should travel/visit

तीर्थानिholy places/fords

सर्वशःin every way / everywhere

रक्षोभ्यःfrom the rakshasas/demons

रक्षितव्यःto be protected / must be guarded

दुर्गेषुin difficult places/strongholds

विषमेषुin uneven/dangerous (places)

चand

Speaker

लोमश उवाच

Characters & Entities

Lomaśa

tīrthas (pilgrimage sites)

rākṣasas

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?

Pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) is a dharmic practice, but it should be undertaken with prudent protection and vigilance; spiritual aims do not cancel the ethical duty to safeguard life in dangerous terrain.

What is happening in the narrative?

Lomaśa is advising that the person undertaking the tīrtha-journey should travel widely among sacred places, but only while being properly escorted and protected, since rākṣasas and other threats are especially likely in remote, rugged, and perilous regions.