Shloka 40
Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
एवं रामह्नदा: पुण्या भार्गवस्य महात्मन: । स्नात्वा हदेषु रामस्य ब्रह्मबचारी शुभव्रत:,राजन! इस प्रकार वर देकर परशुरामजीके पितर प्रसन्नतापूर्वक उनसे अनुमति ले वहीं अन्तर्धान हो गये। इस प्रकार भृगुनन्दन महात्मा परशुरामके वे कुण्ड बड़े पुण्यमय माने गये हैं। राजन्! जो उत्तम व्रत एवं ब्रह्मचर्यका पालन करते हुए परशुरामजीके उन कुण्डोंके जलमें स्नान करके उनकी पूजा करता है, उसे प्रचुर सुवर्णराशिकी प्राप्ति होती है। कुरुश्रेष्ठ! तदनन्तर तीर्थसेवी मनुष्य वंशमूलकतीर्थमें जाय। राजन्! वंशमूलकमें स्नान करके मनुष्य अपने कुलका उद्धार कर देता है। भरतश्रेष्ठ!] कायशोधनतीर्थमें जाकर स्नान करनेसे शरीरकी शुद्धि होती है, इसमें संशय नहीं। शरीर शुद्ध होनेपर मनुष्य परम उत्तम कल्याणमय लोकोंमें जाता है
evaṁ rāma-hradāḥ puṇyā bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ | snātvā hradeṣu rāmasya brahmacārī śubha-vrataḥ ||
Thus are the sacred ‘Rāma-lakes’ of the great-souled Bhārgava (Paraśurāma) held to be highly meritorious. A person who maintains brahmacarya and observes auspicious vows, bathes in Paraśurāma’s pools, and worships there, is said to gain abundant wealth (especially gold). Thereafter, the pilgrim should proceed to the tīrtha called Vaṁśamūlaka: bathing there is declared to uplift one’s lineage. Going on to Kāyaśodhana and bathing, one’s body is purified without doubt; and when the body is purified, one attains supremely auspicious, welfare-bestowing worlds.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Disciplined conduct (brahmacarya and śubha-vrata) combined with reverent pilgrimage and worship is presented as a means to purification and welfare—material prosperity is mentioned, but the deeper emphasis is on inner and bodily purity leading to auspicious states and on actions that benefit one’s lineage.
The speaker praises specific tīrthas associated with Paraśurāma—his sacred pools (Rāma-hradas)—and states the fruits of bathing and worship there. The passage then directs the pilgrim onward to Vaṁśamūlaka (for the uplift of one’s family line) and to Kāyaśodhana (for bodily purification), describing the spiritual outcomes of these rites.