औत्तानपादिरस्पृश्य उत्तमो हि सुरैः कृतः । अथ चेत्तत्र संयामि न महीसागरस्ततः
auttānapādiraspṛśya uttamo hi suraiḥ kṛtaḥ | atha cettatra saṃyāmi na mahīsāgarastataḥ
Bahkan Auttānapādi (Dhruva), yang dahulu pernah dianggap ‘tak tersentuh’, dijadikan amat luhur oleh para dewa. Namun bila aku pergi ke sana, maka pertemuan Bumi dan Samudra ini tidak lagi bermakna atau terjangkau bagiku.
Same narrator (reflective voice) within Sūta’s discourse (deduced)
Tirtha: Mahī-sāgara-saṅgama (as indicated)
Type: sangam
Scene: A pilgrim at a dramatic shoreline confluence where river meets ocean; he recalls Dhruva’s ascent—shown as a child-sage rising toward a star—while the pilgrim hesitates, torn between going elsewhere and staying at the saṅgama.
Even one considered impure can be elevated by divine grace; yet discernment about where to go and what dharma requires remains crucial.
Mahī-sāgara-saṅgama—described as a sacred confluence of land (mahī) and ocean (sāgara).
No direct rite is stated; the verse frames a pilgrimage decision connected to the sanctity of a saṅgama.