Shloka 5

Tīrtha-yātrā: Prayāga-saṅgama and Gayaśiras—Rājarṣi Gaya’s Mahāyajña

Devanagari script

भवतो भ्रातर: शूरा धनुर्धरवरा: सदा | भवद्धिः पालिता: शूरैर्गच्छामो वयमप्युत,“आपके भाई शूरवीर हैं और सदा श्रेष्ठ धनुष धारण किये रहते हैं। आप-जैसे शूरवीरोंसे सुरक्षित होकर हम भी उन तीर्थोंकी यात्रा पूरी कर लेंगे

Transliteration

bhavato bhrātaraḥ śūrā dhanurdharavarāḥ sadā | bhavadbhiḥ pālitāḥ śūraiḥ gacchāmo vayam apy uta ||

Translation

“Ang inyong mga kapatid ay matatapang, laging pinakamahuhusay sa mga mamamana. Sa pag-iingat ng mga bayani tulad ninyo, makasusulong din kami at matatapos ang paglalakbay-dambana sa mga tīrtha na iyon.”

Word by Word

भवतःof you/your

भ्रातरःbrothers

शूराःvaliant/heroic

धनुर्धरवराःexcellent bow-bearers

सदाalways

भवद्भिःby you (all)/by people like you

पालिताःprotected

शूरैःby heroes/valiant men

गच्छामःwe go / we shall go

वयम्we

अपिalso/even

उतand/indeed

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

brothers (of the addressed person)

bow (dhanus)

tīrthas (sacred fords/pilgrimage sites)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic ideal that strength and martial excellence are meant to provide protection for righteous undertakings—here, enabling a sacred pilgrimage. Heroism is framed as guardianship in service of a higher purpose, not mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reassures that the addressed person’s brothers are renowned warriors and expert archers; with such protectors, the group can safely continue their journey and complete the tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage to sacred sites).