Shloka 39

Dhaumya’s Enumeration of Eastern Tīrthas

Prācī-diś Tīrtha-kathana

Devanagari script

अग्निष्टोमफल विन्द्यादू गमनादेव भारत । सर्वदेवह्नदे स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्‌,वहीं सौ यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करके देवराज इन्द्र स्वर्गके सिंहासनपर आसीन हुए थे। भरतनन्दन! वहाँ जानेमात्रसे यात्री अग्निष्टोमयज्ञका फल पा लेता है। तत्पश्चात्‌ सर्वदेवहदमें स्नान करनेसे सहस्र गोदानका फल मिलता है

Transliteration

agniṣṭomaphalaṁ vindyād gamanād eva bhārata | sarvadevahade snātvā gosahasraphalaṁ labhet ||

Translation

Pulastya said: “O Bhārata, merely by going to that sacred place one gains the merit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice. Then, by bathing in the Sarvadeva-hada, one obtains the fruit of gifting a thousand cows.”

Word by Word

अग्निष्टोमफलम्the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma (sacrifice)

विन्द्यात्would obtain / may obtain

उद्गमनात्from going out / by departure (i.e., by going)

एवindeed; just; merely

भारतO Bhārata

सर्वदेवह्रदेin the lake (hṛada) of all the gods

स्नात्वाhaving bathed

गोसहस्रफलम्the fruit (merit) of a thousand cows (as a gift)

लभेत्would obtain / may obtain

Speaker

पुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Pulastya

Bhārata (addressee)

Agniṣṭoma-yajña

Sarvadeva-hada (tīrtha pond)

cows (as dāna-object)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that tīrtha-yātrā and ritual purity (reverent travel and bathing) can confer great religious merit comparable to major sacrifices and large-scale charity, emphasizing accessible dharma through disciplined, nonviolent acts.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sage Pulastya is describing the spiritual potency of a particular sacred site and its pond (Sarvadeva-hada), stating the specific merits gained by visiting and bathing there.