Shloka 159
युधिष्ठिरस्य अर्जुनप्रेषण-युक्तिवर्णनम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rationale for Sending Arjuna and Request to Dhaumya
प्राइनदीं च समासाद्य कृतात्मा भवति द्विज: | सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा शक्रलोक॑ च गच्छति
Prāyaṇadīṁ ca samāsādya kṛtātmā bhavati dvijaḥ | sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā śakralokaṁ ca gacchati ||
Dijo Ghūlastya: «Al llegar al río Prāyaṇa, el dvija se vuelve dueño de sí y sereno por dentro. Purificado en espíritu de todos los pecados, alcanza entonces el mundo de Śakra (Indra)».
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that pilgrimage to a sacred tīrtha, when joined with inner discipline (kṛtātmā), is portrayed as spiritually purifying—removing sin and leading to a higher post-mortem destiny (Śakra’s heaven). The emphasis is not only on reaching a place but on becoming self-controlled and purified in character.
In the context of the Vana Parva’s tīrtha-mahātmya passages, the speaker Ghūlastya describes the fruit of visiting a particular sacred river, the Prāyaṇa. He states the merit gained: the pilgrim becomes self-possessed, purified of sins, and attains Indra’s world.