Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins
स तत्र विधिना राजजन्नाप्लुत्य सुमहातपा: । ज्ञात्वा तीर्थगुणांश्वैव प्राहेदमृषिसत्तम:
sa tatra vidhinā rājajan nāplutya sumahātapāḥ | jñātvā tīrthaguṇāṃś caiva prāhedam ṛṣisattamaḥ ||
അവിടെ ആ മഹാതപസ്വി രാജതീർത്ഥത്തിൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം സ്നാനം ചെയ്തു. ആ തീർത്ഥത്തിന്റെ ഗുണമഹിമകൾ അറിഞ്ഞ്, ഋഷിശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights that sacred acts are not merely symbolic: when performed 'vidhinā' (according to proper rule), they cultivate inner discipline and moral clarity. Knowing the 'tīrtha-guṇas' implies discerning how places and rites are meant to support dharma—purifying intention and guiding right speech and action.
The narrator describes a great ascetic/sage arriving at a sacred ford, bathing there in the prescribed manner, understanding the spiritual merits of that tīrtha, and then beginning to speak—setting up the next passage of counsel or narration.