युधिष्ठिरस्य अर्जुनप्रेषण-युक्तिवर्णनम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rationale for Sending Arjuna and Request to Dhaumya
सप्तगड़े त्रिगड़े च शक्रावर्ते च तर्पयन् । देवान् 6 52 के
ghulastya uvāca | saptagaḍe trigaḍe ca śakrāvarte ca tarpayann | devān pitṝṁś ca vidhivat puṇye loke mahīyate ||
सप्तगडे त्रिगडे चैव शक्रावर्ते च तर्पयन् । देवान् पितॄंश्च विधिवत् पुण्ये लोके महीयते ॥
घुलस्त्य उवाच
The verse teaches that performing prescribed offerings (tarpana) to both gods and ancestors at sacred tīrthas is a form of dharma that generates puṇya, leading to honor and a higher, meritorious state of existence. It emphasizes disciplined ritual action, gratitude, and maintaining the cosmic and familial order.
Within the tīrtha-māhātmya context of the Vana Parva, a speaker (Ghulastya) enumerates specific pilgrimage sites and states the spiritual result of proper worship there: one who performs due libations to devas and pitṛs at these named fords attains esteem in a blessed realm.