Lomasha Guides Yudhishthira Through Tirthas
Yudhishthira and his brothers bathe in the Payoshni river and travel to Mount Vaidurya and the Narmada, seeking sacred tirthas. The sage Lomasha recounts the names of every beautiful site, and Yudhishthira donates thousands in riches to brahmanas at each one, completing a pilgrimage that earns them spiritual merit.
Yudhishthira, the best of men, bathed in the Payoshni river together with his brothers. Then, unblemished and energetic, he traveled with them to Mount Vaidurya and the great river Narmada.
At each place they visited, the illustrious rishi Lomasha recounted for him the names of all the beautiful tirthas (sacred bathing sites). As it pleased him and as it suited him, Yudhishthira went to them one by one, together with his brothers. At every tirtha, he donated riches in thousands to the brahmanas.
The pilgrimage unfolded methodically — each site named, each donation made, each merit earned. Yudhishthira did not rush. He followed Lomasha's guidance, bathing in the sacred waters, giving generously to the priests, and moving on to the next destination with his brothers beside him. By the time they finished, they had visited every tirtha Lomasha had named, completing their journey through these sacred places and accumulating the spiritual rewards that came from such devotion. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 418