Kurukṣetra–Sarasvatī Tīrtha-Māhātmya
Pilgrimage Merits and Sacred Geography
प्रदक्षिणां यः कुरुते पृथिवीं तीर्थतत्पर: । कि फल तस्य कार्त्स्न्येन तद्भवान् वक्तुमहति,“जो मनुष्य तीर्थयात्रामें तत्पर होकर इस पृथ्वीकी परिक्रमा करता है, उसे क्या फल मिलता है? यह आप पूर्णरूपसे बतानेकी कृपा करें”
pradakṣiṇāṁ yaḥ kurute pṛthivīṁ tīrthatatparaḥ | ki phalaṁ tasya kārtsnyena tad bhavān vaktum arhati |
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Anong ganap na gantimpala ang natatamo ng taong masigasig sa paglalakbay sa mga banal na pook at umiikot sa buong daigdig? Ipagkaloob mo sanang ipaliwanag iyon nang lubos.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry: sincere devotion to tīrtha-yātrā and the symbolic act of circumambulating the world are understood to yield spiritual merit, and the listener requests a complete account of that merit from an authoritative teacher.
Vaiśaṃpāyana introduces a question being posed—what reward accrues to one who, intent on visiting sacred places, performs a full circumambulation of the earth—setting up an ensuing explanation about the fruits of pilgrimage.