Shloka 97
Dhaumya’s Enumeration of Eastern Tīrthas
Prācī-diś Tīrtha-kathana
यत्र गड़ा महाराज स देशस्तत् तपोवनम् । सिद्धिक्षेत्रं च तज्ज्ञेयं गड्जातीरसमाश्रितम्,महाराज! जहाँ गंगा बहती हैं वही उत्तम देश है; और वही तपोवन है। गंगाके तटवर्ती स्थानको सिद्धिक्षेत्र समझना चाहिये
yatra gaṅgā mahārāja sa deśas tat tapovanam | siddhikṣetraṃ ca taj jñeyaṃ gaṅgātīrarasamāśritam, mahārāja |
Pulastya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, negeri tempat Gaṅgā mengalir itulah negeri yang diberkati; wilayah itu patut dianggap sebagai hutan tapa. Ketahuilah pula bahawa tempat-tempat yang bersandar pada tebing Gaṅgā harus dikenal sebagai ‘kṣetra pencapaian rohani’.”
पुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sacred geography is tied to ethical-spiritual practice: the Gaṅgā’s presence sanctifies the land, and dwelling or practicing austerity on her banks is presented as especially conducive to purity and spiritual attainment (siddhi).
Pulastya instructs the king about the sanctity of regions associated with the Gaṅgā, identifying the Gaṅgā-bearing land as a tapovana and her riverbanks as siddhikṣetras—guidance typically meant to orient pilgrimage, vows, and disciplined conduct.