Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 50
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
इन्द्र बोले--मुने! मनुष्यको चाहिये कि कुरुक्षेत्र, गया, गंगा, प्रभास और पुष्करक्षेत्रका मन-ही-मन चिन्तन करके जलमें स्नान करे। ऐसा करनेसे वह पापसे उसी प्रकार मुक्त हो जाता है, जैसे चन्द्रमा राहुके ग्रहणसे ।।
śakra uvāca—mune! manuṣyena kuru-kṣetra-gayā-gaṅgā-prabhāsa-puṣkara-kṣetrāṇāṃ manasā smaraṇaṃ kṛtvā jale snānaṃ kartavyam; evaṃ kṛte sa pāpāt tathā mucyate yathā candramā rāhu-grahaṇāt. tryahaṃ snātaḥ sa bhavati, nirāhāraś ca vartate; spṛśate yo gavāṃ pṛṣṭham, bālārddhiṃ ca namasyati.
釈迦羅（インドラ）は言った。「おお、牟尼よ。人は水に身を浸して沐浴しつつ、心のうちにクルクシェートラ、ガヤー、ガンガー、プラバーサ、プシュカラという聖地を念じ観想すべきである。そうすれば、ラーフによる蝕から月が解き放たれるように、罪より解放される。その者は三日間沐浴した者のごとくなり、食を断って住する者のごとくなる。また、牛の背に触れ、敬って礼拝する者は、説かれた功徳を得る。」
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Mental remembrance of major tīrthas while bathing is presented as a powerful means of purification, capable of removing sin like the moon’s release from an eclipse; reverence and gentle contact with cows is also treated as meritorious.
Indra (Śakra) addresses a sage and describes a dharmic practice: bathing accompanied by inward contemplation of renowned sacred places, explaining its expiatory effect and adding associated acts of merit such as fasting-like discipline and honoring cows.