Shloka 23
Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya
यस्येष्टियज्ञेष्वधिकारितास्ति वरं गृहं गृहधर्माश्च सर्वे । एवं गृहस्ताश्रमसंस्थितस्य तीर्थे गतिः पूर्वतरैर्निषिद्धा । सर्वाणि तीर्थान्यपि चाग्निहोत्रतुल्यानि नैवेति वदंति केचित् ॥ २३ ॥
yasyeṣṭiyajñeṣvadhikāritāsti varaṃ gṛhaṃ gṛhadharmāśca sarve | evaṃ gṛhastāśramasaṃsthitasya tīrthe gatiḥ pūrvatarairniṣiddhā | sarvāṇi tīrthānyapi cāgnihotratulyāni naiveti vadaṃti kecit || 23 ||
இஷ்டி யாகங்களில் தகுதி உள்ளவருக்கு இல்லறமே சிறந்தது; இல்லற தர்மங்கள் அனைத்தும் மேலானவை. இவ்வாறு கிருஹஸ்த ஆச்ரமத்தில் நிலைத்தவருக்கு தீர்த்தப் பயணம் பழங்காலோர் தடை செய்தனர். சிலர், எல்லா தீர்த்தங்களும் அக்னிஹோத்ரத்துக்கு சமமல்ல எனவும் கூறுவர்.
Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara is implied)
Vrata: Agnihotra (nitya rite; not a vrata)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It prioritizes nitya-karma (daily obligatory rites like Agnihotra and gṛhadharma) over optional religious travel, teaching that steadiness in one’s āśrama-dharma is itself a primary spiritual discipline.
By implying that devotion is not only expressed through visiting sacred places; for a householder, faithful performance of prescribed duties and sacrifices can be a direct form of dharmic worship that supports bhakti through discipline and purity.
Ritual competence (Kalpa/Śrauta–Gṛhya practice) is central: it stresses adhikāra (eligibility) and the hierarchy of nitya rites like Agnihotra over kāmya/optional acts such as extensive tīrtha-yātrā.