Shloka 13
Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed
यस्यात्मबुद्धि: कुणपे त्रिधातुके स्वधी: कलत्रादिषु भौम इज्यधी: । यत्तीर्थबुद्धि: सलिले न कर्हिचि- ज्जनेष्वभिज्ञेषु स एव गोखर: ॥ १३ ॥
yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke sva-dhīḥ kalatrādiṣu bhauma ijya-dhīḥ yat-tīrtha-buddhiḥ salile na karhicij janeṣv abhijñeṣu sa eva go-kharaḥ
यस्यात्मबुद्धिः कुणपे त्रिधातुके, स्वधीः कलत्रादिषु, भौम इज्यधीः; यत्तीर्थबुद्धिः सलिले, न कर्हिचिज्जनेष्वभिज्ञेषु—स एव गोखरः॥
True intelligence is shown by one’s freedom from false identification of the self. As stated in the Bṛhaspati-saṁhitā:
FAQs
This verse condemns bodily self-identification as ignorance, saying that one who thinks the self is the material body and lives in possessiveness is compared to an animal.
A tīrtha is not merely sacred water; true holiness is found in the association of realized devotees and saints, who carry spiritual knowledge and devotion.
Reduce body-based identity and possessiveness, seek sādhu-saṅga, and treat pilgrimage and religious practice as a means to grow devotion and humility rather than as mere external ritual.