Shloka 87
Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
तपश्चरन्ति विपुलं बहु वर्षमहस्रकम् । दृषद्व॒त्यां नर: स्नात्वा तर्पयित्वा च देवता:
tapaś caranti vipulaṃ bahu varṣa-sahasrakam | dṛṣadvatyāṃ naraḥ snātvā tarpayitvā ca devatāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Ghūlastya: “Ang mga tao’y nagsasagawa ng saganang pag-aayuno at pagdurusa sa loob ng maraming libong taon. Ngunit sa pagligo sa Dṛṣadvatī at pag-aalay ng nararapat na libasyon sa mga diyos, natatamo ang nagpapabanal na bunga na hinahangad ng gayong mahabang pagtitika.”
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts prolonged tapas with the concentrated spiritual efficacy of tīrtha-bathing and proper offerings to the gods, implying that disciplined ritual action performed in a sanctified context can powerfully support dharma and purification.
Ghūlastya is describing the religious potency of the Dṛṣadvatī: a person who bathes there and performs tarpaṇa to the deities attains significant merit, comparable in intent to what long austerities aim to achieve.