Shloka 14
Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins
जगाम सर्वतीर्थानि पृथिव्यां चेति नः श्रुतम् । उस मस्तकसे दुर्गन्धयुक्त पीब बहती रहती थी और महामुनि महोदर वेदनासे पीड़ित हो गये थे। हमने सुना है कि मुनिने किसी तरह भूमण्डलके सभी तीर्थोंकी यात्रा की ।। स गत्वा सरित: सर्वा: समुद्रांश्ष महातपा:,उन महातपस्वी महर्षिने सम्पूर्ण सरिताओं और समुद्रोंकी यात्रा करके वहाँ रहनेवाले पवित्रात्मा मुनियोंसे वह सब वृत्तान्त कह सुनाया। सम्पूर्ण तीर्थोमें स्नान करके भी वे उस कपालसे छुटकारा न पा सके
jagāma sarvatīrthāni pṛthivyāṃ ceti naḥ śrutam | sa gatvā saritaḥ sarvāḥ samudrāṃś ca mahātapāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana disse: “Ouvimos dizer que ele peregrinou por todos os vaus sagrados da terra. Aquele grande asceta, tendo visitado todos os rios e até os mares, contou todo o ocorrido aos sábios de alma pura que ali habitavam. Contudo, mesmo após banhar-se em todos os lugares santos, não pôde libertar-se daquele crânio.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
External rites—such as extensive pilgrimage and bathing at holy places—do not automatically remove a deep affliction or karmic burden; true release depends on the specific dharmic remedy and inner purification, not merely on travel to sacred sites.
A great ascetic, afflicted by an inescapable skull, travels across the earth to all tīrthas, rivers, and seas, reporting his plight to the sages he meets; despite bathing everywhere, he remains unable to rid himself of the skull.