Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 50
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
इन्द्र बोले--मुने! मनुष्यको चाहिये कि कुरुक्षेत्र, गया, गंगा, प्रभास और पुष्करक्षेत्रका मन-ही-मन चिन्तन करके जलमें स्नान करे। ऐसा करनेसे वह पापसे उसी प्रकार मुक्त हो जाता है, जैसे चन्द्रमा राहुके ग्रहणसे ।।
śakra uvāca—mune! manuṣyena kuru-kṣetra-gayā-gaṅgā-prabhāsa-puṣkara-kṣetrāṇāṃ manasā smaraṇaṃ kṛtvā jale snānaṃ kartavyam; evaṃ kṛte sa pāpāt tathā mucyate yathā candramā rāhu-grahaṇāt. tryahaṃ snātaḥ sa bhavati, nirāhāraś ca vartate; spṛśate yo gavāṃ pṛṣṭham, bālārddhiṃ ca namasyati.
释迦罗（因陀罗）说道：“噢，牟尼！人当入水沐浴，而于心中默念观想诸圣地：俱卢之野（Kurukṣetra）、伽耶（Gayā）、恒河（Gaṅgā）、普罗婆娑（Prabhāsa）与补湿迦罗（Puṣkara）。如此行之，便能脱离罪垢，正如月轮脱离罗睺之蚀。此人等同于三日沐浴者；亦如绝食而住；凡触牛背并俯首致敬者，亦得所说之功德。”
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Mental remembrance of major tīrthas while bathing is presented as a powerful means of purification, capable of removing sin like the moon’s release from an eclipse; reverence and gentle contact with cows is also treated as meritorious.
Indra (Śakra) addresses a sage and describes a dharmic practice: bathing accompanied by inward contemplation of renowned sacred places, explaining its expiatory effect and adding associated acts of merit such as fasting-like discipline and honoring cows.