Shloka 96
Dhaumya’s Enumeration of Eastern Tīrthas
Prācī-diś Tīrtha-kathana
न गड़ासदृशं तीर्थ न देव: केशवात् पर: । ब्राह्मणेभ्य: पर॑ नास्ति एवमाह पितामह:,गंगाके समान कोई तीर्थ नहीं, भगवान् विष्णुसे बढ़कर कोई देवता नहीं और ब्राह्मणोंसे उत्तम कोई वर्ण नहीं है; ऐसा ब्रह्माजीका कथन है
na gaṅgāsadṛśaṃ tīrthaṃ na devaḥ keśavāt paraḥ | brāhmaṇebhyaḥ paraṃ nāsti evam āha pitāmahaḥ ||
Pulastya said: “There is no sacred ford like the Gaṅgā; no deity higher than Keśava (Viṣṇu); and none superior to the Brāhmaṇas. Thus spoke Pitāmaha (Brahmā).” In the ethical frame of the discourse, the verse ranks three pillars of dharma—purifying pilgrimage (Gaṅgā), supreme devotion (Keśava), and reverence for Vedic custodianship (Brāhmaṇas)—as guiding standards for right conduct.
पुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse establishes a hierarchy of religious ideals: the Gaṅgā as the foremost purifier among tīrthas, Keśava as the supreme deity, and Brāhmaṇas as the highest social-religious authority—encouraging pilgrimage, devotion, and reverence for Vedic learning as supports of dharma.
In the Vana Parva’s tīrtha-focused discourse, the sage Pulastya instructs his listener by citing Pitāmaha (Brahmā) as an authoritative source, summarizing revered conclusions about sacred places, the supreme god, and the preeminence of Brāhmaṇas.