Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
अर्चयित्वा पितृन् देवानुपवासपरायण: । अग्निष्टोममवाप्रोति सूर्यलोक॑ च गच्छति,मनको वशमें करके सूर्यतीर्थमें जाकर स्नान और देवता-पितरोंका अर्चन करके उपवास करनेवाला मनुष्य अग्निष्टोमयज्ञका फल पाता और सूर्यलोकमें जाता है
arcayitvā pitṝn devān upavāsa-parāyaṇaḥ | agniṣṭomam avāpnoti sūryalokaṃ ca gacchati ||
Ghūlastya dijo: «Quien, entregado al ayuno, va al vado sagrado del Sol, se baña allí y rinde culto debidamente a los dioses y a los padres ancestrales, alcanza un mérito igual al sacrificio Agniṣṭoma y después llega al mundo del Sol».
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Austerity and devotion performed at a sacred place—especially bathing, worship of gods and ancestors, and fasting—can yield merit comparable to major Vedic sacrifices, emphasizing accessible dharma through disciplined practice and reverence.
The speaker (Ghūlastya) describes the spiritual reward of visiting the Sun’s sacred ford, performing ritual bathing and worship, and observing a fast: the practitioner gains Agniṣṭoma-like merit and is said to reach Sūrya’s celestial realm.