Shloka 58

Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga

Pulastya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

मातृतीर्थ च तत्रैव यत्र स्नातस्य भारत | प्रजा विवर्धते राजन्नतन्वीं श्रियमश्नुते

Transliteration

mātṛtīrthaṃ ca tatraiva yatra snātasya bhārata | prajā vivardhate rājann atanvīṃ śriyam aśnute ||

Translation

At naroon din ang banal na tawiran na tinatawag na Mātṛtīrtha: O Bhārata, ang sinumang maligo roon ay magpapasagana sa kanyang mga nasasakupan; at O hari, magkakamit siya ng kasaganahang hindi kumukupas at tumatagal magpakailanman.

Word by Word

• मातृतीर्थम्: the mother-(related) sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• मातृतीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृतीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• स्नातस्य: of (one) who has bathed
• स्नातस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नात
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रजा: the subjects/people
• प्रजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विवर्धते: grows/prospers
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अतन्वीम्: unfailing/undiminishing
• अतन्वीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्वी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रियम्: prosperity, fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अश्नुते: attains/enjoys
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mātṛtīrtha
• Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)
• rājan (the king, as addressee)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links righteous pilgrimage and ritual purification (bathing at a tīrtha) with ethical kingship: the king’s merit is shown not merely in personal gain but in the flourishing of his subjects, culminating in stable, non-waning prosperity.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Pāṇḍavas’ forest period, a guide/speaker is describing the greatness of particular sacred sites. Here he points out Mātṛtīrtha and states the fruits of bathing there—growth of one’s people and enduring fortune for the ruler.