Shloka 13
Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed
यस्यात्मबुद्धि: कुणपे त्रिधातुके स्वधी: कलत्रादिषु भौम इज्यधी: । यत्तीर्थबुद्धि: सलिले न कर्हिचि- ज्जनेष्वभिज्ञेषु स एव गोखर: ॥ १३ ॥
yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu bhauma ijya-dhīḥ yat-tīrtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij janeṣv abhijñeṣu sa eva go-kharaḥ
Sesiapa yang menganggap dirinya ialah tubuh kaku yang terbina daripada lendir, hempedu dan angin; yang menyangka isteri dan keluarga sebagai ‘milikku’ selama-lamanya; yang menganggap arca tanah atau tanah kelahiran sebagai yang patut disembah; yang melihat tirtha sekadar airnya—namun tidak pernah mendekati, menghormati, memuja atau menziarahi orang bijak yang mengenal kebenaran rohani—dia tidak lebih daripada lembu atau keldai.
True intelligence is shown by one’s freedom from false identification of the self. As stated in the Bṛhaspati-saṁhitā:
FAQs
This verse condemns bodily self-identification as ignorance, saying that one who thinks the self is the material body and lives in possessiveness is compared to an animal.
A tīrtha is not merely sacred water; true holiness is found in the association of realized devotees and saints, who carry spiritual knowledge and devotion.
Reduce body-based identity and possessiveness, seek sādhu-saṅga, and treat pilgrimage and religious practice as a means to grow devotion and humility rather than as mere external ritual.