Travel Quotes From The Age Old Wisdom Of Sanskrit Literature

India has valued ‘Travel’ and ‘Travel Experiences’ for a long time. Travel quotes from our Sanskrit literature are a testimony to this. They contain the age-old wisdom of our Rishis, who were the biggest travelers ever.

Our mind expands when we subject it to different experiences. And what could be a better way than to travel in order to get those experiences? Our ancestors knew this and they have said it loudly in many scriptures and books.

Today, we look at such Sanskrit travel quotes from the past and understand how they viewed travel. For starters let’s see how many words are there for travel in Sanskrit.

Popular Sanskrit Words for Travel

यात्रा (yatra) – To Travel

यात्री (Yatri) – Traveler

पर्यटक (paryaTaka) – Tourist

पर्यटन ( ParyaTan) – Tourism

पथिक (pathika) – That on the road

प्रवासिन् (pravAsin) – Living in another country

and there are many more such words.

Read More – Travel Phrases that I learned by Traveling

Travel Quotes from Sanskrit

Some of the quotes from different Sanskrit scriptures and what they tell about being a traveler:

1. पर्यटन् पृथिवीं सर्वां, गुणान्वेषणतत्परः।
   Panchatantra

जो गुणों की खोज में तत्पर है,वे लोग सारी पृथिवी घुमते है।

Those who wish to seek virtues travel the entire world.

2. हदये सुखसम्पत्तिः पदे पर्यटनं फलम्।
Source – Sarva-Siddhant-Samgrah

उनके मन में सुख, संपत्ती और पैरों में पर्यटन होता है।

They have happiness and wealth in their hearts and traveling in their feet.

3. चरैवेति चरैवेति॥
Aitareya Brahman 7.15

चलते रहो, चलते रहो…

Keep moving, keep moving…

4. यस्मिन्प्रचीर्णे च पुनश्चरन्ति; स वै श्रेष्ठो गच्छत यत्र कामः।
Mahabharat, Ashwamedh Parva 7-23

जो लोग सामनेआए हुए (मार्ग) पर चलते है, वह श्रेष्ठ होते है और उनको अभीष्ट प्राप्त होता है।

Those who walk on what has come forth, are indeed great and get what they desire.

5. चरन्ति वसुधां कृत्स्नां वावदूका बहुश्रुताः।
Mahabharat, Shanti Parva 19-24

बुद्धीमान् और वाक्-कुशल लोग, सारी पृथ्वी घुमते है।

Intelligent and eloquent people roam around the whole world.

6. चरन्मार्गान्विजानाति |
Mahabharat, Adi Parva 133-23

पथिक व्यक्ती को मार्ग पता चलता है।

A wanderer (eventually) knows the path.

7. आस्ते भग आसीनस्य, ऊध्वर्स्तिष्ठति तिष्ठतः।
शेते निपद्यमानस्य, चराति चरतो भगः।
Aitareya Brahman 7-15

बैठे हुए मनुष्य का सौभाग्य बैठा रहता है, उठ कर खडे होने वाले व्यक्ति का सौभाग्य भी उठ कर खड़ा हो जाता है,लेटे हुए मनुष्य का सौभाग्य सोया रहता है, और चलने वाले व्यक्ति का सौभाग्य उसके साथ- साथ चल पड़ता है।

The fate of a person who sits, also seats. The fate of a standing person also stands and the fate of a sleeping person also sleeps. But the fate of a person who walks (travels) also walks (grows) along.

8. चरन् वै मधु विन्दति, चरन् स्वादुमुदुम्बरम्।
सूयर्स्य पश्य श्रेमाणं, यो न तन्द्रयते चरन्।
Aitareya Brahman 7.15

जो सदा श्रमशील, गतिशील हैं, वो सदा मधुपान (शहद/ अमृत / परिश्रम का सुफल) करते हैं, कर्मयोगी को सदा श्रेष्ठ कर्म का श्रेष्ठ परिणाम मिलता है। देखो, सूर्य कितना, कर्मशील और सृजन शील है, पल भर भी जो दूसरों के कल्याण के लिये अपने श्रम से कभी विमुख नही हैं ।

The one who travels enjoys the nectar. The same enjoy sweet fruits. Look at the efforts lord Surya, he is never tired of walking.

9. अन्योन्यवीर्यनिकषाः पुरुषा भ्रमन्ति।
Urubhangam 2

एक दुसरे की पहचान जो वीरता से करते है, वे लोग घुमते है।

Those who test each-other based on their valor, travel.

10. दुःखं हन्तुं सुखं प्राप्तुं ते भ्रमन्ति मुधाम्बरे।
Bodhicharyavararah

वे आकाश में मुग्ध रूप से, दुःख भुलने के लिये और सुख के प्राप्ति के लिये घूमते (उडते) है (हमारी तरह)।

They roam madly in space, to forget the grief, and to attain happiness (just like us).

11. हृदि श्रीर्मस्तके राज्य पादे पर्यटनं फलम्।
Sarva-siddhant-samgrah

उनके मन में संपत्ति, सिर के उपर राज्य (का दायित्व) और पैरों में पर्यटन होता है।

They have wealth in heart, kingship on their heads (responsibilities) and traveling in their feet.

12. योजनानां सहस्त्रं तु शनैर्गच्छेत् पिपीलिका।
Subhashitamala

शनैः शनैः ही सही, सतत चलते रहने पर, चींटी जैसी छोटी सी जीव भी सहस्रों योजन की यात्रा पूरी कर लेती है।

Even a tiny creature such as ant can move ahead miles together if it keeps on walking consistently.

13. यस्तु संचरते देशान् यस्तु सेवेत पण्डितान् ।
तस्य विस्तारिता बुद्धिस्तैलबिन्दुरिवाम्भसि ॥
Subhashit Manjiri 11-89

भिन्न देशों में यात्रा करने वाले और विद्वानों के साथ संबंध रखने वाले
व्यक्ति की बुद्धि उसी तरह बढ़ती है, जैसे तेल की एक बूंद पानी में फैलती है।

The intelligence of a person who travels in different countries and associates
with scholars expand, just as a drop of oil expands in water.

If you know of more travel-related quotes from Sanskrit scriptures, do tell us about them in the comments below.

Read More – Mattur – The Sanskrit Speaking Village of Karnataka

This is a guest post by Sushant Ratnaparkhi of ReSanskrit.

ReSanskrit is an initiative to bring forth the tremendous and useful knowledge Sanskrit literature has in a beautiful and modern format.

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