Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins
स तत्र विधिना राजजन्नाप्लुत्य सुमहातपा: । ज्ञात्वा तीर्थगुणांश्वैव प्राहेदमृषिसत्तम:
sa tatra vidhinā rājajan nāplutya sumahātapāḥ | jñātvā tīrthaguṇāṃś caiva prāhedam ṛṣisattamaḥ ||
তাত সেই মহাতপস্বীয়ে ৰাজতীৰ্থত বিধিপূৰ্বক স্নান কৰিলে। তীৰ্থৰ গুণ-মহিমা জানি, ঋষিশ্ৰেষ্ঠই এই বাক্য ক’লে।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights that sacred acts are not merely symbolic: when performed 'vidhinā' (according to proper rule), they cultivate inner discipline and moral clarity. Knowing the 'tīrtha-guṇas' implies discerning how places and rites are meant to support dharma—purifying intention and guiding right speech and action.
The narrator describes a great ascetic/sage arriving at a sacred ford, bathing there in the prescribed manner, understanding the spiritual merits of that tīrtha, and then beginning to speak—setting up the next passage of counsel or narration.