Shloka 189

Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga

Pulastya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

ततः कन्याश्रमं गच्छेन्नियतो ब्रह्मचर्यवान्‌ | त्रिरात्रोपोषितो राजन्‌ नियतो नियताशन:

Transliteration

tataḥ kanyāśramaṃ gacchen niyato brahmacaryavān | trirātropoṣito rājan niyato niyatāśanaḥ ||

Translation

Then, O King, disciplined and steadfast in celibate conduct, he should proceed to the maiden’s hermitage. Having observed a three-night fast, self-restrained and measured in his food, he is to approach in a state of purity and controlled senses—signaling that the undertaking must be guided by austerity, restraint, and ethical preparation rather than impulse.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय

• कन्या-आश्रमम्: the maiden’s hermitage
• कन्या-आश्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक); कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गच्छेत्: should go
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नियतः: disciplined, restrained
• नियतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि+यम् → नियत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मचर्यवान्: observing celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रि-रात्र-उपोषितः: having fasted for three nights
• त्रि-रात्र-उपोषितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपोषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उप+वस्/उपवास धात्वर्थे → उपोषित); रात्र (प्रातिपदिक); त्रि (संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• नियतः: restrained
• नियतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि+यम् → नियत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नियत-आशनः: of regulated diet/food
• नियत-आशनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशन (प्रातिपदिक); नियत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• rājan (the King, addressee)
• kanyāśrama (maiden’s hermitage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that approaching a significant encounter or undertaking should be preceded by ethical discipline: brahmacarya (chastity), fasting, and regulated conduct. Inner restraint and purification are presented as prerequisites for right action.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker instructs the king about the proper procedure: the person should go to the maiden’s hermitage only after observing a three-night fast and maintaining strict self-control and moderated diet, indicating a formal, dharma-guided approach.