Shloka 27
Avanti–Narmadā–Puṣkara Tīrtha-Kathana (धौम्यकथितं तीर्थवर्णनम्)
तीर्थानि सरित: शैला: पुण्यान्यायतनानि च,“महाराज! पूर्वदिशामें जो बहुत-से तीर्थ, नदियाँ, पर्वत और पुण्य मन्दिर आदि हैं, उनका मैंने तुमसे (संक्षेपमें) वर्णन किया है। अब शेष तीन दिशाओंके सरिताओं, पर्वतों और पुण्यस्थानोंका वर्णन करता हूँ, सुनो"
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tīrthāni saritaḥ śailāḥ puṇyāny āyatanāni ca | mahārāja! pūrvadiśi yāni bahūni tīrthāni nadyaḥ parvatāś ca puṇyamandirāṇi cāsti, teṣāṃ mayā tava saṅkṣepeṇa varṇanaṃ kṛtam | idānīṃ śeṣāṇāṃ trīṇāṃ diśāṃ saritāṃ parvatānāṃ puṇyasthānānāṃ ca varṇanaṃ karomi, śṛṇu ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O great king, I have briefly described to you the many sacred fords, rivers, mountains, and holy shrines that lie in the eastern quarter. Now listen as I describe the rivers, mountains, and sanctified places that remain in the other three directions.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores the dharmic value of tīrtha—sacred places associated with purification and merit—by organizing them direction-wise, implying that spiritual practice is supported by mindful engagement with sanctified landscapes and traditions.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating to King Janamejaya, concludes a brief account of eastern sacred sites and transitions to describing the remaining holy rivers, mountains, and pilgrimage places in the other three directions.