Shloka 18
Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections
इन्द्रतीर्थेति विख्यात॑ त्रिषु लोकेषु मानद । तस्या जिज्ञासनार्थ स भगवान् पाकशासन:
indratīrtheti vikhyātaṃ triṣu lokeṣu mānada | tasyā jijñāsanārthaṃ sa bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: “Hỡi bậc ban danh dự, bến thánh mang tên ‘Indratīrtha’ lừng danh khắp ba cõi. Muốn hiểu tường tận về nơi ấy, chính Pākaśāsana (Indra) đã lên đường với ý định thỉnh hỏi.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic attitude toward sacred places: true understanding comes through humble inquiry (jijñāsā). Even a great deity like Indra seeks knowledge by asking, implying that reverence is joined with the discipline of learning.
Vaiśampāyana introduces a celebrated pilgrimage site called Indratīrtha, famed in all three worlds, and states that Indra (Pākaśāsana) himself wished to know its significance and therefore undertook inquiry about it.