Shloka 17
Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins
स तु गत्वा ततस्तत्र तीर्थमौशनसं द्विज:,तदनन्तर वे ब्रह्मर्षि वहाँ औशनसतीर्थमें गये और उसके जलसे आचमन एवं स्नान किया। उसी समय वह कपाल उनके चरण (जाँघ)-को छोड़कर पानीके भीतर गिर पड़ा
sa tu gatvā tatastatra tīrtham auśanasaṃ dvijaḥ | tad-anantaraṃ vai brahmarṣiḥ tatra auśanasa-tīrthe gatvā tasya jalena ācamanaṃ ca snānaṃ ca cakāra | tasminn eva kāle tat kapālaṃ tasya ūru-caraṇau vihāya jalāntare nipapāta |
Entonces el brahmán se encaminó al vado sagrado llamado Auśanasa. Al llegar a aquel lugar santo, el brahmarṣi realizó el ācamana (sorbo ritual) y se bañó en sus aguas. En ese mismo instante, el cráneo que se aferraba a su muslo/pie soltó su presa y cayó dentro del agua.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the purificatory power of tīrtha and right ritual conduct: through ācamana and snāna at a consecrated place, a troubling attachment (symbolized by the clinging skull) is released, suggesting the easing of karmic burden through disciplined purification.
A brahmin/seer reaches the Auśanasa pilgrimage ford, performs ritual sipping and bathing, and at that very moment the skull that had been stuck to his thigh/foot drops off and falls into the water.