Shloka 15
Tīrtha-yātrā: Prayāga-saṅgama and Gayaśiras—Rājarṣi Gaya’s Mahāyajña
धूतपाप्मा सहास्माभिलोंमशेनाभिपालित: । “नरेश्वर! आप पापरहित हैं, धौम्य मुनि, परम बुद्धिमान् नारदजी तथा महातपस्वी देवर्षि लोमशने जिन-जिन तीर्थोंका वर्णन किया है, उन सबमें आप महर्षि लोमशजीसे सुरक्षित हो हमारे साथ विधिपूर्वक भ्रमण करें” ।। १३-१४ $ ।। स राजा पूज्यमानस्तैहर्षादश्रुपरिप्लुत:,लोमशं समनुज्ञाप्य धौम्यं चैव पुरोहितम् । पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ युधिष्ठिर अपने वीर भ्राता भीमसेन आदिसे घिरकर खड़े थे। उन ब्राह्मणोंद्वारा इस प्रकार सम्मानित होनेपर उनके नेत्रोंमें हर्षके आँसू भर आये। उन्होंने देवर्षि लोमश तथा पुरोहित धौम्यजीकी आज्ञा लेकर उन सब ऋषियोंसे “बहुत अच्छा' कहकर उनका अनुरोध स्वीकार कर लिया
dhūtapāpmā sahāsmābhir lomaśenābhipālitaḥ | “nareśvara! āpa pāparahita haiṃ, dhaumya muni, parama buddhimān nāradajī tathā mahātapasvī devarṣi lomaśane jin-jin tīrthoṃkā varṇana kiyā hai, un sabmeṃ āpa maharṣi lomaśjīse surakṣita ho hamāre sātha vidhipūrvak bhramaṇa kareṃ” || 13-14 || sa rājā pūjyamānas tair harṣād aśrupariplutaḥ, lomaśaṃ samanujñāpya dhaumyaṃ caiva purohitam | pāṇḍavaśreṣṭha yudhiṣṭhira apne vīra bhrātā bhīmasena ādi se ghirakar khaṛe the | un brāhmaṇoṃdvārā is prakār sammānit honepar unke netroṃmeṃ harṣke āṃsū bhar āye | unhoṃne devarṣi lomaś tathā purohita dhaumyajī kī ājñā lekar un sab ṛṣiyoṃse “bahut acchā” kahkar unakā anurodh svīkār kar liyā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O king, you are free from sin. The sage Dhaumya, the supremely wise Nārada, and the great ascetic Devarṣi Lomaśa have described many sacred fords; therefore, protected by Maharṣi Lomaśa, travel with us to all those tīrthas in due and proper manner.” Honoured in this way by those Brahmins, the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) was overcome with joy and his eyes filled with tears. Surrounded by his heroic brothers such as Bhīmasena, he sought the permission of Devarṣi Lomaśa and of his priest Dhaumya, and then, saying “So be it,” accepted the request of the assembled sages.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is strengthened through humble receptivity to wise counsel and through disciplined, rule-guided practice (vidhipūrvaka tīrtha-yātrā). Even a king acts rightly by seeking permission from spiritual authorities and accepting guidance meant for his moral purification.
The Brahmins and sages urge Yudhiṣṭhira to undertake a pilgrimage to the tīrthas described by Dhaumya, Nārada, and Lomaśa, assuring him of Lomaśa’s protection. Yudhiṣṭhira, moved to tears by their honour, asks permission from Lomaśa and Dhaumya and agrees to the journey.