Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins
स तत्र विधिना राजजन्नाप्लुत्य सुमहातपा: । ज्ञात्वा तीर्थगुणांश्वैव प्राहेदमृषिसत्तम:
sa tatra vidhinā rājajan nāplutya sumahātapāḥ | jñātvā tīrthaguṇāṃś caiva prāhedam ṛṣisattamaḥ ||
وہاں اس عظیم تپسوی نے راج-تیرتھ میں دستور کے مطابق اشنان کیا۔ اس تیرتھ کی خوبیوں اور فضیلت کو جان کر، رشیوں میں برتر نے یہ کلمات کہے۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights that sacred acts are not merely symbolic: when performed 'vidhinā' (according to proper rule), they cultivate inner discipline and moral clarity. Knowing the 'tīrtha-guṇas' implies discerning how places and rites are meant to support dharma—purifying intention and guiding right speech and action.
The narrator describes a great ascetic/sage arriving at a sacred ford, bathing there in the prescribed manner, understanding the spiritual merits of that tīrtha, and then beginning to speak—setting up the next passage of counsel or narration.