Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
दशाश्रमेधिकं चैव तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महीपते । तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्यापत्र गच्छेत परमां गतिम्,भूपाल! वहीं दशाश्वमेधिकतीर्थ भी है। पुरुषसिंह! उसमें स्नान करके मनुष्य उत्तम गति प्राप्त करता है
daśāśvamedhikaṃ caiva tasmiṃs tīrthe mahīpate | tatra snātvā naravyāghra gacchet paramāṃ gatim bhūpāla ||
മഹീപതേ! ആ തീർത്ഥത്തിൽ തന്നേ ദശാശ്വമേധികം എന്ന തീർത്ഥവും ഉണ്ട്. നരവ്യാഘ്രാ! അവിടെ സ്നാനം ചെയ്താൽ മനുഷ്യൻ പരമഗതി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു, ഹേ ഭൂപാലാ.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
The verse teaches that reverent engagement with sacred places—especially ritual bathing at renowned tīrthas—yields profound spiritual merit and can lead one toward the ‘highest state’ (paramā gati), emphasizing dharmic life through pilgrimage and purification.
A speaker addresses a king and points out that at the mentioned sacred ford there is the Daśāśvamedhika tīrtha; the speaker then praises its efficacy, stating that bathing there grants a person the highest blessed attainment.