Shloka 26
अध्याय ९० — लोमशोपदेशः तथा तीर्थयात्रानिश्चयः
Lomaśa’s Counsel and the Resolve for Pilgrimage
उष्णतोयवहा गड़ा शीततोयवहा पुरा । सुवर्णसिकता राजन् विशालां बदरीमनु,राजन! पूर्वकालसे ही विशाला बदरीके समीप गंगा कहीं गरम जल तथा कहीं शीतल जल प्रवाहित करती हैं। उनकी बालू सुवर्णकी भाँति चमकती रहती है
uṣṇatoyavahā gaṅgā śītatoyavahā purā | suvarṇasikatā rājan viśālāṃ badarīmanu ||
Dhaumya said: “O King, in former times the Gaṅgā flowed near the great Badarī (Viśālā) with waters that were warm in some stretches and cool in others; and her sand there gleamed like gold.”
धौम्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sanctity and extraordinary nature of tīrthas (holy places): the Gaṅgā near Badarī is portrayed as wondrous and pure, encouraging reverence for sacred geography and the dharmic practice of pilgrimage and austerity.
Dhaumya is describing a sacred locale to the king, pointing out marvels of the Gaṅgā near the great Badarī—its alternating warm and cool waters and its gold-like sands—setting the scene for the significance of that place.