Shloka 154
Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
विप्राणामनुकम्पार्थ दर्भिणा निर्मित पुरा । व्रतोपनयनाभ्यां चाप्युपवासेन वाप्युत,कुरुकुलशिरोमणे! वहीं अर्धकील नामक तीर्थ है, जिसे पूर्वकालमें दर्भी मुनिने ब्राह्मणोंपर कृपा करनेके लिये प्रकट किया था। वहाँ व्रत, उपनयन और उपवास करनेसे मनुष्य कर्मकाण्ड और मन्त्रोंका ज्ञाता ब्राह्मण होता है, इसमें संशय नहीं है। नरश्रेष्ठ! क्रियाविहीन और मन्त्रहीन पुरुष भी उसमें स्नान करके व्रतका पालन करनेसे विद्वान् होता है, यह बात प्राचीन महर्षियोंने प्रत्यक्ष देखी है
viprāṇām anukampārthaṁ darbhiṇā nirmitaṁ purā | vratopayanābhyāṁ cāpy upavāsena vāpy uta, kurukulaśiromaṇe! vahīṁ ardhakīla nāmakaṁ tīrtha hai, jise pūrvakāla meṁ darbhī munine brāhmaṇoṁ par kṛpā karane ke liye prakaṭ kiyā thā. vahāṁ vrata, upanayana aur upavāsa karane se manuṣya karmakāṇḍa aur mantroṁ kā jñātā brāhmaṇa hotā hai, ismeṁ saṁśaya nahīṁ hai. naraśreṣṭha! kriyāvihīna aura mantrahīna puruṣa bhī usmeṁ snāna karke vrata kā pālana karane se vidvān hotā hai, yah bāt prācīna maharṣiyoṁ ne pratyakṣa dekhī hai
Ghūlastya disse: “Ó joia culminante da linhagem dos Kuru! Em tempos antigos, por compaixão para com os brāhmaṇas, o sábio Darbhī manifestou este vau sagrado, chamado Ardhakīla. Ali, pela observância de um voto, pelo rito de iniciação (upanayana) e também pelo jejum, um homem torna-se um brāhmaṇa—conhecedor do corpo ritual e dos mantras; disso não há dúvida. Ó melhor dos homens! Mesmo alguém desprovido de prática ritual e sem aprendizado de mantras, ao banhar-se ali e cumprir o voto, torna-se erudito; isto foi visto diretamente pelos grandes videntes da antiguidade.”
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes the sanctifying power of a tīrtha when approached with disciplined observance: vows, initiation, and fasting are presented as means that can elevate a person toward brahminical learning and competence in ritual and mantra. It also highlights compassion as the motive behind establishing sacred spaces.
Ghūlastya describes a particular pilgrimage site, Ardhakīla, said to have been manifested by the sage Darbhī for the benefit of brahmins. He explains the extraordinary fruit of bathing there and observing vows—transformative learning and ritual eligibility—validated by the testimony of ancient seers.