यथा हि कटुतिक्तादि गवा ग्रस्तं हि क्षीरदम् । एवमेतत्त्विदं तोयं पितॄणां तृप्ति दायकम्
yathā hi kaṭutiktādi gavā grastaṃ hi kṣīradam | evametattvidaṃ toyaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tṛpti dāyakam
Assim como a vaca pode consumir coisas pungentes e amargas e, ainda assim, dar leite, do mesmo modo esta própria água concede, de fato, satisfação aos Pitṛs.
Devas (illustrating the principle with an analogy)
Tirtha: Mahī-tīrtha
Type: sangam
Scene: A cow grazing on bitter herbs in the foreground; in the background, devotees offer tarpaṇa at brackish water; a sage explains the analogy, linking milk’s purity to the tīrtha’s spiritual potency.
Outer qualities do not limit inner efficacy; sacred intention and tīrtha-power make the rite fruitful.
The Mahī–Sāgara Saṅgama tīrtha (context of saline water and Pitṛ rites).
It supports the acceptability of using the local water for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa/snāna by explaining its spiritual efficacy.