Shloka 12
Sequential Description of Pilgrimage Fords and Their Merits
Tīrtha-Itinerary
अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति गच्छेच्चौशनसीं गतिम् । ऋषिकुल्यां समासाद्य वसिष्ठं चैव भारत
aśvamedhamavāpnoti gaccheccauśanasīṃ gatim | ṛṣikulyāṃ samāsādya vasiṣṭhaṃ caiva bhārata
ಅವನು ಅಶ್ವಮೇಧ ಯಾಗದ ಫಲವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಉಶನಸನು ಉಪದೇಶಿಸಿದ ಶುಭಗತಿಯನ್ನು ಸೇರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಹೇ ಭಾರತ, ಋಷಿಕುಲ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿ ವಸಿಷ್ಠನ ದರ್ಶನವೂ ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (addressing 'Bhārata')
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: river
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अश्वमेधम्+अवाप्नोति→अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति; गच्छेत्+चौशनसीम्→गच्छेच्चौशनसीम्; च+एव→चैव
FAQs
It equates reaching the sacred place (Ṛṣikulyā) and its associated rishi-tradition with very high ritual merit—specifically, the fruit of an Aśvamedha—highlighting pilgrimage as a powerful means of accruing puṇya.
Uśanas is Śukra, famed as an ācārya (preceptor). The phrase can imply attaining a refined spiritual 'course/destiny' associated with his teaching or lineage—i.e., a blessed, guided path rather than mere worldly movement.
The verse underscores reverence for sacred geography and sage-lineages: approaching tīrthas and venerable rishis (like Vasiṣṭha) is portrayed as transformative, yielding results comparable to grand sacrifices.