Shloka 113
युधिष्ठिरस्य अर्जुनप्रेषण-युक्तिवर्णनम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rationale for Sending Arjuna and Request to Dhaumya
गण्डकीं तु समासाद्य सर्वतीर्थजलोद्धवाम् । वाजपेयमवाप्रोति सूर्यलोक॑ च गच्छति,गण्डकी नदी सब तीर्थोंके जलसे उत्पन्न हुई है। वहाँ जाकर तीर्थयात्री अश्वमेधयज्ञका फल पाता और सूर्यलोकमें जाता है
gaṇḍakīṃ tu samāsādya sarvatīrthajalodbhavām | vājapeyam avāpnoti sūryalokaṃ ca gacchati ||
E ao alcançar o rio Gaṇḍakī, dito nascido das águas de todos os tīrthas, obtém-se o mérito do sacrifício Vājapeya e alcança-se o mundo do Sol.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sincere pilgrimage to a revered tīrtha is credited with extraordinary spiritual merit—comparable to a major Vedic sacrifice—and can lead to exalted posthumous destinations (here, Sūryaloka). It elevates ethical intention and reverent approach to sacred places as a dharmic practice.
In a section praising tīrthas (tīrtha-māhātmya), the speaker Ghūlastya describes the greatness of the Gaṇḍakī river, declaring that reaching it grants the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice and leads the pilgrim to the Sun’s realm.