Shloka 19

Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

ऋणतीर्थं ततो गच्छेत् स ऋणान्मुच्यते ध्रुवम् / महेश्वरं ततो गच्छेत् पर्याप्तं जन्मनः फलम्

Transliteration

ṛṇatīrthaṃ tato gacchet sa ṛṇānmucyate dhruvam / maheśvaraṃ tato gacchet paryāptaṃ janmanaḥ phalam

Translation

ثم ينبغي أن يقصد رِṇa-تيرثا (Ṛṇa-tīrtha)، فبذلك يتحرر يقيناً من الديون. وبعدها يقصد مهيشڤرا؛ فهناك يكتمل ثمر الميلاد ويغدو كافياً، متحقق الغاية.

Word by Word

ऋणतीर्थम्the Ṛṇa-tīrtha (debt-clearing ford)

ततःthen, thereafter

गच्छेत्should go

सःhe

ऋणात्from debt

मुच्यतेis freed

ध्रुवम्surely

महेश्वरम्Mahēśvara (Śiva)

ततःthen

गच्छेत्should go

पर्याप्तम्sufficient, complete

जन्मनःof (one’s) birth/life

फलम्fruit, result

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahātmya to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

Ṛ

Ṛṇa-tīrtha

Maheśvara (Śiva)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly, by framing human life as meant for a culminating spiritual “fruit”: pilgrimage and Śiva-darśana symbolize moving from obligation-bound action (ṛṇa) toward inner completion, where the purpose of embodied existence is fulfilled.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse emphasizes tīrtha-yātrā as a dharmic discipline: purification through sacred geography, vow-based conduct, and devotion (bhakti) that supports inner steadiness—an outer aid aligned with the Kurma Purana’s broader yoga-oriented ethic.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

Even within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa framework, the instruction to seek Maheśvara presents Śiva-worship as spiritually consummating, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where devotion to Śiva and the overarching dharma lead to the same completeness.