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Shloka 41

युधिष्ठिरस्य अर्जुनप्रेषण-युक्तिवर्णनम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rationale for Sending Arjuna and Request to Dhaumya

अरुन्धतीवटं गच्छेत्‌ तीर्थसेवी नराधिप । सामुद्रकमुपस्पृश्य ब्रह्मचारी समाहित:,नरपते! तत्पश्चात्‌ तीर्थसेवी अरुन्धतीवटके समीप जाय और सामुद्रकतीर्थमें स्नान करके ब्रह्मचर्यपालनपूर्वक एकाग्रचित्त हो तीन रात उपवास करे। इससे मनुष्य अश्वमेधयज्ञ और सहस््र गोदानका फल पाता तथा अपने कुलका उद्धार कर देता है

arundhatīvaṭaṃ gacchet tīrthasevī narādhipa | sāmudrakam upaspṛśya brahmacārī samāhitaḥ |

Sinabi ni Ghūlasthya: “O hari, hayaang ang manlalakbay sa mga banal na pook ay pumunta sa punong balete ni Arundhatī. Pagkaligo sa banal na tawiran na Sāmudraka, mamuhay siya bilang brahmacārin—nananatiling malinis at selibat—na may isip na natitipon at payapa, at magsagawa ng pag-aayuno sa loob ng tatlong gabi. Sa ganitong disiplina, nakakamit ng tao ang kabutihang-kaloob na katumbas ng handog na Aśvamedha at ng bunga ng pag-aalay ng isang libong baka, at naiaangat niya ang buong angkan.”

[{'term''arundhatīvaṭa', 'definition': '‘Arundhatī’s banyan tree’
[{'term':
a named sacred tree/shrine associated with the ideal of chastity and marital fidelity'}, {'term''gacchet', 'definition': 'should go
a named sacred tree/shrine associated with the ideal of chastity and marital fidelity'}, {'term':
ought to proceed'}, {'term''tīrthasevī', 'definition': 'one who frequents/serves sacred fords
ought to proceed'}, {'term':
a pilgrim devoted to tīrthas'}, {'term''narādhipa / narapate', 'definition': 'O ruler of men
a pilgrim devoted to tīrthas'}, {'term':
O king'}, {'term''sāmudraka', 'definition': 'the Sāmudraka tīrtha
O king'}, {'term':
a sacred bathing place (tīrtha-name)'}, {'term''upaspṛśya', 'definition': 'having touched the water
a sacred bathing place (tīrtha-name)'}, {'term':
having performed ritual bathing/ablution'}, {'term''brahmacārī', 'definition': 'one observing brahmacarya
having performed ritual bathing/ablution'}, {'term':
celibate, disciplined in conduct'}, {'term''samāhitaḥ', 'definition': 'composed, concentrated, mentally collected'}, {'term': 'upavāsa', 'definition': 'fasting
celibate, disciplined in conduct'}, {'term':
here, a three-night fast (as indicated by the prose gloss)'}, {'term''aśvamedha', 'definition': 'the horse-sacrifice
here, a three-night fast (as indicated by the prose gloss)'}, {'term':
emblematic of supreme royal merit'}, {'term''sahasra-godāna', 'definition': 'gift of a thousand cows
emblematic of supreme royal merit'}, {'term':
a major act of charity'}, {'term''kuloddhāra', 'definition': 'uplift/salvation of one’s lineage
a major act of charity'}, {'term':

घुलस्त्य उवाच

G
Ghulasthya
N
Narādhipa (the king addressed)
A
Arundhatīvaṭa
S
Sāmudraka-tīrtha
A
Aśvamedha (sacrifice)
G
Go-dāna (gift of cows)

Educational Q&A

Pilgrimage is not merely travel but disciplined practice: ritual bathing, brahmacarya, mental concentration, and fasting. Such self-restraint and purity are presented as generating merit comparable to grand sacrifices and major charities, with benefits extending to one’s lineage.

A speaker named Ghulasthya instructs a king about a specific tīrtha-sequence: go to Arundhatīvaṭa, bathe at the Sāmudraka tīrtha, observe celibacy and focused mind, and fast for three nights, promising exalted sacrificial and charitable fruits and the uplift of the family line.