Shloka 5
Account of Various Sacred Tīrthas
Pilgrimage Merits and Prayāga Supremacy
गंगायास्तु परं द्वीपं प्राप्य यः स्नाति भारत । त्रिरात्रोपोषितो राजन्सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात्
gaṃgāyāstu paraṃ dvīpaṃ prāpya yaḥ snāti bhārata | trirātropoṣito rājansarvakāmamavāpnuyāt
يا بهاراتا، من بلغ الجزيرة البعيدة للغانغا واغتسل فيها، بعد صيام ثلاث ليالٍ، يا ملك، نال تمام كل المرادات.
Pulastya (to Bhīṣma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गंगायास्तु = गङ्गायाः + तु; राजन्सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात् = राजन् + सर्वकामम् + अवाप्नुयात्; त्रिरात्रोपोषितो = त्रिरात्र-उपोषितः (visarga lost in sandhi).
FAQs
It treats a specific Gaṅgā-location—described as a “farther island/river-islet” (paraṁ dvīpam)—as a distinct tīrtha whose merit is activated by reaching it and bathing there.
While framed as a tīrtha-rite, the verse highlights devotional sacred geography centered on Gaṅgā; the act of pilgrimage, bathing, and vow (fasting) functions as a faith-based discipline directed toward divine grace and merit.
It links desired outcomes to self-restraint: the promised fruit (“all desires”) is conditioned on discipline—travel to a holy place and a three-night fast—teaching that restraint and sacred intention should precede enjoyment.