Tīrtha-yātrā: Prayāga-saṅgama and Gayaśiras—Rājarṣi Gaya’s Mahāyajña
राजंस्तीर्थानि गन्तासि पुण्यानि भ्रातृभि: सह । ऋषिणा चैव सहितो लोमशेन महात्मना,“महाराज! आप अपने भाइयों तथा महात्मा लोमश मुनिके साथ पुण्यतीर्थोंमें जानेवाले हैं
rājaṃs tīrthāni gantāsi puṇyāni bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | ṛṣiṇā caiva sahito lomaśena mahātmanā ||
“Wahai Maharaja, tuanku akan pergi ke tīrtha-tīrtha yang suci bersama saudara-saudaramu, dan juga ditemani resi agung Lomaśa yang berhati mulia.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic renewal through tīrtha-yātrā: sacred travel undertaken with disciplined companionship (brothers) and under the guidance of a realized sage (Lomaśa), suggesting that ethical strength and inner purification are cultivated through holy places, right company, and learned counsel.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the king (contextually Yudhiṣṭhira) and states that he will proceed to holy pilgrimage sites along with his brothers, accompanied by the eminent sage Lomaśa—setting up the tīrtha-yātrā episode within the Vana Parva.