Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
काशीथ्वरस्य तीर्थेषु स्नात्वा भरतसत्तम | सर्वव्याधिविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मलोके महीयते,भरतश्रेष्ठ! काशीश्वरके तीर्थोमें स्नान करके मनुष्य सब रोगोंसे मुक्त हो जाता और ब्रह्मलोकमें प्रतिष्ठित होता है
kāśīśvarasya tīrtheṣu snātvā bharatasattama | sarvavyādhivinirmukto brahmaloke mahīyate ||
Ghūlastya nói: “Hỡi bậc ưu tú nhất trong dòng Bhārata, ai tắm gội tại các bến thánh thuộc về Chúa tể Kāśī (Kāśīśvara) thì được giải thoát khỏi mọi bệnh tật và được tôn vinh—an lập—trong cõi Brahmā (Brahmaloka).”
घुलस्त्य उवाच
The verse teaches that sacred bathing at revered tīrthas—here those associated with Kāśī—symbolizes purification and is credited with both worldly benefit (freedom from illness) and spiritual reward (honor in Brahmaloka), encouraging disciplined, faith-based observance.
A speaker named Ghūlastya addresses a Bharata noble, praising the efficacy of Kāśī’s tīrthas: one who bathes there is said to be cured of diseases and to attain exalted status in Brahmā’s realm.