Shloka 18
Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections
इन्द्रतीर्थेति विख्यात॑ त्रिषु लोकेषु मानद । तस्या जिज्ञासनार्थ स भगवान् पाकशासन:
indratīrtheti vikhyātaṃ triṣu lokeṣu mānada | tasyā jijñāsanārthaṃ sa bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ ||
मानद! ‘इन्द्रतीर्थ’ नाम से प्रसिद्ध वह तीर्थ तीनों लोकों में विख्यात है। उसके विषय में जानने की इच्छा से स्वयं भगवान् पाकशासन (इन्द्र) पूछताछ के लिए चले।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic attitude toward sacred places: true understanding comes through humble inquiry (jijñāsā). Even a great deity like Indra seeks knowledge by asking, implying that reverence is joined with the discipline of learning.
Vaiśampāyana introduces a celebrated pilgrimage site called Indratīrtha, famed in all three worlds, and states that Indra (Pākaśāsana) himself wished to know its significance and therefore undertook inquiry about it.