Shloka 30

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

Pulastya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

अनया पितृभक्‍्त्या च विक्रमेण च ते विभो । वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते किमिच्छसि महाद्युते,पितरोंने कहा--महाभाग राम! परशुराम! भृगुनन्दन! विभो! हम तुम्हारी इस पितृभक्तिसे और तुम्हारे पराक्रमसे भी बहुत प्रसन्न हुए हैं। महाद्युते! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। तुम कोई वर माँगो। बोलो, क्या चाहते हो?

Transliteration

anayā pitṛ-bhaktyā ca vikrameṇa ca te vibho | varaṁ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṁ te kim icchasi mahā-dyute ||

Translation

祖灵（Pitṛ）说道：“噢，威力无比者，我们因你对祖先的孝敬虔诚与英勇而大为欢喜。噢，光辉的英雄，愿善福临于你。择取一项恩赐——告诉我们，你所欲何求？”

Word by Word

• {'anayā': 'by this (act/this manner)', 'pitṛ-bhaktyā': 'with devotion to one’s fathers/ancestors

• filial piety', 'ca': 'and', 'vikrameṇa': 'with prowess, heroic valor', 'te': 'of you/your

• to you', 'vibho': 'O powerful one, O lord', 'varam': 'a boon, a gift of grace', 'vṛṇīṣva': 'choose (imperative, 2nd person singular)', 'bhadram': 'welfare, auspicious good', 'bhadram te': 'may auspiciousness be yours

• blessings upon you', 'kim': 'what?', 'icchasi': 'do you desire/wish', 'mahā-dyute': 'O greatly radiant one

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestral fathers)
• Rāma (Paraśurāma, Bhṛgunandana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links ethical excellence to two virtues: pitṛ-bhakti (reverent duty toward one’s ancestors) and vikrama (courage used in righteous action). When these are harmonized, they earn the elders’ approval and open the way for grace (vara), implying that power is best legitimized by devotion and duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

The ancestral fathers (Pitṛs) address Rāma/Paraśurāma, praising his filial devotion and heroic prowess. Pleased, they bless him and invite him to choose a boon, asking what he wishes to receive.