Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ तीर्थ संनिहतीमपि,धर्मज्ञ! तदनन्तर वहाँसे संनिहतीतीर्थकी यात्रा करे
tato gacchet dharmajña tīrtha-saṁnihatīm api | dharmajña tad-anantaraṁ vahāṁse saṁnihatī-tīrthasya yātrāṁ kuryāt ||
Luego, oh conocedor del dharma, debe ir también al vado sagrado llamado Saṁnihatī. Después, desde allí, que el peregrino de ánimo dhármico emprenda el viaje hacia el Tīrtha de Saṁnihatī, avanzando paso a paso por la senda prescrita de los lugares santos.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
The verse emphasizes dharma-guided conduct through pilgrimage: a ‘dharmajña’ should follow the ordered sequence of tīrthas, suggesting disciplined spiritual practice and reverence for sacred places as part of righteous living.
The speaker is directing the listener along a pilgrimage itinerary, instructing that after the previous stop one should go next to the Saṁnihatī Tīrtha, continuing the prescribed tīrtha-yātrā route.