Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
भो भो महर्षे धर्मज्ञ किमर्थ नृत्यते भवान् | हर्षस्थानं किमर्थ वा तवाद्य मुनिपुज़व
bho bho maharṣe dharmajña kimarthaṁ nṛtyate bhavān | harṣasthānaṁ kimarthaṁ vā tavādya munipuṅgava ||
Ghūlastya nói: “Ôi bậc đại hiền giả đáng tôn kính, người am tường dharma—vì sao ngài nhảy múa? Hôm nay, cớ gì khiến ngài hoan hỷ như vậy, hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng khổ hạnh?”
घुलस्त्य उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic discernment about emotion and conduct: even a sage’s outward joy should have a meaningful cause, inviting reflection on what truly merits celebration and how inner states manifest in action.
A speaker named Ghūlastya addresses a revered sage, surprised to see him dancing, and asks what joyful event has occurred that would prompt such an unusual display from an ascetic.