Shloka 188
Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नर: स्नात्वा वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् । सारस्वतीं गतिं चैव लभते नात्र संशय:,उस तीर्थमें स्नान करनेसे मनुष्य अश्वमेधयज्ञका फल पाता है और सरस्वतीलोकको प्राप्त होता है, इसमें संशय नहीं है
tasmiṁs tīrthe naraḥ snātvā vājimedha-phalaṁ labhet | sārasvatīṁ gatiṁ caiva labhate nātra saṁśayaḥ ||
Bathing at that sacred ford, a person gains the merit of performing the Aśvamedha sacrifice; and he also attains the blessed course leading to the realm of Sarasvatī—of this there is no doubt.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a tīrtha is not merely a physical location but a dharmic means of purification: bathing there with proper intent can yield merit equated with the great Aśvamedha sacrifice and lead to an exalted spiritual destiny associated with Sarasvatī.
Within the Vana Parva’s pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) context, the speaker is praising a particular sacred bathing place, declaring the extraordinary spiritual rewards obtained by bathing there—ritual merit (Aśvamedha-fruit) and attainment of the Sārasvatī gati.