Shloka 18

Devanagari script

मनसाप्यभिकामस्य पुष्कराणि मनस्विन: । विप्रणश्यन्ति पापानि नाकपृछे च मोदते,“जो मनस्वी पुरुष मनसे भी पुष्करतीर्थमें निवास करनेकी इच्छा करता है, उसके सारे पाप नष्ट हो जाते हैं और वह स्वर्गलोकमें आनन्द भोगता है”

Transliteration

manasāpy abhikāmasya puṣkarāṇi manasvinaḥ | vipraṇaśyanti pāpāni nākapṛṣṭhe ca modate ||

Translation

Dhaumya said: Even if a resolute man merely forms in his mind the wish to dwell at the sacred Puṣkara, his sins are destroyed; and, attaining the heights of heaven, he rejoices.

Word by Word

मनसाby mind

अपिeven/also

अभिकामस्यof (one) desiring/longing for

पुष्कराणिPushkara (holy places/ponds) (as object of desire/attainment)

मनस्विनःof the high-minded man

विप्रणश्यन्तिperish completely/are destroyed

पापानिsins

नाकपृष्ठेin heaven (lit. on the back/surface of the sky)

चand

मोदतेrejoices/enjoys

Speaker

धौम्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhaumya

Puṣkara (tīrtha)

Nāka (heaven)

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 sincere inner resolve toward a dharmic act—here, the wish to reside at the sacred tīrtha of Pushkara—has purifying power: it destroys pāpa and leads to heavenly joy. Intention (saṅkalpa) is treated as ethically and spiritually efficacious, not merely external action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhaumya is praising the greatness of Pushkara as a tīrtha, explaining its फल (spiritual result). He emphasizes that even mentally aspiring to go and dwell there grants purification and heavenly reward, thereby encouraging reverence for pilgrimage and sacred places.