Shloka 118
Pulastya’s Tīrtha Enumeration: Sarasvatī, Naimiṣa, Gayā, and Associated Phalaśruti
Chapter 82
गवामयुतमाप्रोति कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत् । ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ रुद्रकोटिं समाहित:,ऐसा करनेसे मनुष्य दस हजार गोदानका फल पाता है और अपने कुलका उद्धार कर देता है। धर्मज्ञ! वहाँसे एकाग्रचित्त हो रुद्रकोटितीर्थमें जाय। महाराज! रुद्रकोटि वह स्थान है, जहाँ पूर्वकालमें एक करोड़ मुनि बड़े हर्षमें भरकर भगवान् रुद्रके दर्शनकी अभिलाषासे आये थे। भारत! “भगवान् वृषभध्वजका दर्शन पहले मैं करूँगा, मैं करूँगा" ऐसा संकल्प करके वे महर्षि वहाँके लिये प्रस्थित हुए थे
ghulastya uvāca | gavām ayutam āpnoti kulaṃ caiva samuddharet | tato gacchet dharmajña rudrakoṭiṃ samāhitaḥ |
Ghulastya said: “By doing this, a man attains the merit equal to the gift of ten thousand cows and also uplifts (redeems) his lineage. Then, O knower of dharma, with a concentrated mind he should proceed to Rudrakoṭi. O king, Rudrakoṭi is the place where, in ancient times, a crore of sages—filled with great joy and longing for the sight of Lord Rudra—came. O descendant of Bharata, those great seers set out for that spot, each resolved, ‘I shall be the first to behold the Bull-bannered Lord—yes, I shall!’”
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that disciplined religious action and pilgrimage undertaken with mental concentration can yield great merit—likened to the fruit of donating ten thousand cows—and can contribute to the uplift of one’s lineage; devotion to Rudra and dharmic intent are central.
The speaker directs the listener (a king/descendant of Bharata) to proceed to the sacred place Rudrakoṭi, describing its sanctity by recalling an ancient gathering where an immense multitude of sages went there eagerly, each striving to be first to behold Rudra (Vṛṣabhadhvaja).