Shloka 167
Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
स्वर्गद्वारं ततो गच्छेन्नियतो नियताशन: । स्वर्गलोकमवाप्रोति ब्रह्मलोक॑ च गच्छति,तदनन्तर नियमपरायण हो नियमित भोजन करते हुए स्वर्गद्वारको जाय। उस तीर्थके सेवनसे मनुष्य स्वर्गलोक पाता और ब्रह्मलोकमें जाता है
svargadvāraṁ tato gacchen niyato niyatāśanaḥ | svargalokam avāpnoti brahmalokaṁ ca gacchati ||
Thereafter, disciplined and restrained in diet, one should proceed to the ‘Gate of Heaven’. By resorting to that sacred ford, a person attains the heavenly world and also reaches the world of Brahmā—thus the text commends regulated conduct and pilgrimage as a means to higher spiritual destinations.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that disciplined conduct—especially restraint in food and regulated living—combined with reverent approach to a sacred tīrtha is presented as a dharmic path that yields elevated post-mortem destinations (Svarga and even Brahmaloka).
In the context of Vana Parva’s tīrtha-mahātmya passages, the speaker is describing the prescribed practice for a pilgrim: after certain observances, one should go to the place called Svargadvāra; the text then states the spiritual reward of visiting/serving that tīrtha—attainment of Svargaloka and Brahmaloka.