Shloka 159
युधिष्ठिरस्य अर्जुनप्रेषण-युक्तिवर्णनम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rationale for Sending Arjuna and Request to Dhaumya
प्राइनदीं च समासाद्य कृतात्मा भवति द्विज: | सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा शक्रलोक॑ च गच्छति
Prāyaṇadīṁ ca samāsādya kṛtātmā bhavati dvijaḥ | sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā śakralokaṁ ca gacchati ||
Ghūlastya nói: “Khi đến sông Prāyaṇa, người dvija trở nên tự chế và an định nội tâm. Tinh thần được gột sạch mọi tội lỗi, người ấy sẽ đạt đến cõi của Śakra (Indra).”
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that pilgrimage to a sacred tīrtha, when joined with inner discipline (kṛtātmā), is portrayed as spiritually purifying—removing sin and leading to a higher post-mortem destiny (Śakra’s heaven). The emphasis is not only on reaching a place but on becoming self-controlled and purified in character.
In the context of the Vana Parva’s tīrtha-mahātmya passages, the speaker Ghūlastya describes the fruit of visiting a particular sacred river, the Prāyaṇa. He states the merit gained: the pilgrim becomes self-possessed, purified of sins, and attains Indra’s world.