Shloka 57
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
सा तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य यातुधानी स्वरूपिणी । जगाम तद् वन यत्र विचेरुस्ते महर्षय:,राजाकी यह आज्ञा पाकर यातुधानीने “तथास्तु” कहकर इसे स्वीकार किया और जहाँ वे महर्षि विचरा करते थे, उस वनमें चली गयी
sā tatheti pratiśrutya yātudhānī svarūpiṇī | jagāma tad vana yatra vicerus te maharṣayaḥ ||
सा तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य यातुधानी स्वरूपिणी । जगाम तद्वनं यत्र विचेरुस्ते महर्षयः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of a promise (pratiśruti): once assent is given—“tathā”—one is bound to act, and actions directed toward the realm of sages are especially subject to dharmic evaluation and resultant consequences.
A shape-shifting yātudhānī agrees to an instruction/request (“tathā iti”) and proceeds to the forest where great sages customarily roam, setting up the next development involving the ascetics’ domain.