Shloka 17
Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins
स तु गत्वा ततस्तत्र तीर्थमौशनसं द्विज:,तदनन्तर वे ब्रह्मर्षि वहाँ औशनसतीर्थमें गये और उसके जलसे आचमन एवं स्नान किया। उसी समय वह कपाल उनके चरण (जाँघ)-को छोड़कर पानीके भीतर गिर पड़ा
sa tu gatvā tatastatra tīrtham auśanasaṃ dvijaḥ | tad-anantaraṃ vai brahmarṣiḥ tatra auśanasa-tīrthe gatvā tasya jalena ācamanaṃ ca snānaṃ ca cakāra | tasminn eva kāle tat kapālaṃ tasya ūru-caraṇau vihāya jalāntare nipapāta |
Kemudian brahmin itu pergi ke tīrtha yang dikenali sebagai Auśanasa. Setelah tiba di tempat suci itu, sang brahmarṣi melakukan ācamana (meneguk air suci) dan mandi dalam airnya. Pada saat itu juga, tengkorak yang melekat pada paha/kakinya terlepas lalu jatuh ke dalam air.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the purificatory power of tīrtha and right ritual conduct: through ācamana and snāna at a consecrated place, a troubling attachment (symbolized by the clinging skull) is released, suggesting the easing of karmic burden through disciplined purification.
A brahmin/seer reaches the Auśanasa pilgrimage ford, performs ritual sipping and bathing, and at that very moment the skull that had been stuck to his thigh/foot drops off and falls into the water.