Shloka 113
युधिष्ठिरस्य अर्जुनप्रेषण-युक्तिवर्णनम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rationale for Sending Arjuna and Request to Dhaumya
गण्डकीं तु समासाद्य सर्वतीर्थजलोद्धवाम् । वाजपेयमवाप्रोति सूर्यलोक॑ च गच्छति,गण्डकी नदी सब तीर्थोंके जलसे उत्पन्न हुई है। वहाँ जाकर तीर्थयात्री अश्वमेधयज्ञका फल पाता और सूर्यलोकमें जाता है
gaṇḍakīṃ tu samāsādya sarvatīrthajalodbhavām | vājapeyam avāpnoti sūryalokaṃ ca gacchati ||
At kapag narating ang ilog Gaṇḍakī—na sinasabing nagmula sa mga tubig ng lahat ng banal na tawiran—matatamo ng manlalakbay ang gantimpalang katumbas ng handog na Vājapeya at makararating sa daigdig ng Araw.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sincere pilgrimage to a revered tīrtha is credited with extraordinary spiritual merit—comparable to a major Vedic sacrifice—and can lead to exalted posthumous destinations (here, Sūryaloka). It elevates ethical intention and reverent approach to sacred places as a dharmic practice.
In a section praising tīrthas (tīrtha-māhātmya), the speaker Ghūlastya describes the greatness of the Gaṇḍakī river, declaring that reaching it grants the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice and leads the pilgrim to the Sun’s realm.