Shloka 55

Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga

Pulastya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

तत्र संनिहिता नित्यं पितरो दैवतै: सह । तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वीत पितृदेवार्चने रत:

Transliteration

tatra saṃnihitā nityaṃ pitaro daivataiḥ saha | tatrābhiṣekaṃ kurvīta pitṛdevārcane rataḥ ||

Translation

ಅಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವತೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಪಿತೃಗಳು ನಿತ್ಯವೂ ಸಂನಿಹಿತರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಪಿತೃ-ದೇವಾರ್ಚನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತನಾದವನು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿಷೇಕವನ್ನು (ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕ ಸ್ನಾನ/ಅರ್ಘ್ಯ) ಮಾಡಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

तत्रthere

संनिहिताःpresent, assembled

नित्यम्always

पितरःthe ancestors (manes)

दैवतैःwith the deities

सहtogether with

तत्रthere

अभिषेकम्ablution, consecratory bathing

कुर्वीतshould do / should perform

पितृदेवार्चनेin the worship of ancestors and gods

रतःdevoted, engaged

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

pitaraḥ (ancestors/manes)

daivatāni (deities)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches reverence toward both ancestors and deities, emphasizing that sacred places are understood as living presences where the Fathers and gods are accessible; therefore, one should perform proper ritual acts (abhiṣeka/offerings) with devotion as part of pitṛdharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker instructs the listener about a particular sacred location, stating that ancestors and gods are continually present there and recommending that a devoted worshipper perform consecratory rites there as part of honoring both pitṛs and devas.