Shloka 178

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

Pulastya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

ततः स्थाणुवर्ट गच्छेत्‌ त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ sthāṇuvartaṃ gacchet triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam

Translation

Then one should proceed to Sthāṇuvarta, a place renowned throughout the three worlds.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्ययम्

• स्थाणुवटम्: the Sthāṇu-banyan (a famed banyan tree)
• स्थाणुवटम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थाणुवट (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (गच्छति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• त्रिषु: in (the) three
• त्रिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (लोक-शब्दानुसारम्), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• लोकेषु: in the worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• विश्रुतम्: renowned; famous
• विश्रुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रु (धातुः) → विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः, नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (स्थाणुवटम् इति कर्मपदं विशेषयति)

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sthāṇuvarta

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse conveys an injunctional ethic: one ought to go to a famed sacred place (Sthāṇuvarta). The optative gacchet frames pilgrimage as a dharmic practice—seeking purification, merit, and right orientation through contact with places celebrated for sanctity.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker gives directional guidance within a pilgrimage or sacred-travel context, recommending the next destination: Sthāṇuvarta, described as famous across the three worlds, emphasizing its exceptional religious stature.