Shloka 24

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

Pulastya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

कुरुक्षेत्रस्य तद्‌ द्वारं विश्रुतं भरतर्षभ । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य तीर्थसेवी समाहित:

Transliteration

kurukṣetrasya tad dvāraṁ viśrutaṁ bharatarṣabha | pradakṣiṇam upāvṛtya tīrthasevī samāhitaḥ ||

Translation

O bull among the Bharatas, that well-known gateway of Kurukṣetra—having approached it and circumambulated it in the auspicious clockwise manner—the pilgrim, intent on serving the sacred ford, becomes composed and inwardly collected.

Word by Word

कुरुक्षेत्रस्यof Kurukṣetra

तत्that

द्वारम्gate/entrance

विश्रुतम्well-known, renowned

भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas

प्रदक्षिणम्clockwise; keeping to the right (in circumambulation)

उपावृत्यhaving gone around / having circumambulated

तीर्थसेवीa pilgrim; one who frequents sacred fords

समाहितःcomposed, concentrated, self-controlled

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kurukṣetra

Bharatarṣabha (honorific addressee)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Reverence for sacred places is not merely external: disciplined ritual conduct (like pradakṣiṇā) supports inner steadiness (samāhita), aligning the pilgrim’s mind with dharmic intention and purification.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker points out the famed entrance to Kurukṣetra and describes the proper pilgrim’s approach—circumambulating it clockwise and engaging in tīrtha-observance—resulting in a focused, composed state of mind.