Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

चन्द्रभागां ततो गच्छेत् स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् / स्नातमात्रो नरस्तत्र सोमलोके महीयते

Transliteration

candrabhāgāṃ tato gacchet snānaṃ tatra samācaret / snātamātro narastatra somaloke mahīyate

Translation

ثم ينبغي أن يقصد نهر تشاندربهاغا (Chandrabhāgā) ويؤدي هناك الاغتسال المقدّس على الوجه اللائق. وبمجرد الاغتسال فيه يُكرَّم المرء ويُعظَّم في عالم سوما، عالم القمر.

Word by Word

चन्द्रभागाम्(to) the Candrabhāgā (river)

ततःthen

गच्छेत्should go

स्नानम्bathing

तत्रthere

समाचरेत्should duly perform

स्नातमात्रःmerely by bathing (just-bathed)

नरःa man

तत्रthere

सोमलोकेin the world of Soma

महीयतेis honored; is glorified

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the tirtha-mahātmya in the Kurma Purana’s pilgrimage section)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

Chandrabhaga

Soma

Somaloka

FAQs

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

This verse is primarily a tirtha-phala statement: it teaches that dharmic action performed with श्रद्धा (faith) purifies and elevates the seeker’s condition, preparing the mind for higher knowledge of Ātman rather than directly defining Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The practice emphasized is tīrtha-snāna as an external discipline supporting inner purification (citta-śuddhi). In Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual framework, such purity is a prerequisite for steadier japa, dhyāna, and the yogic pursuit associated with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and liberation.

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

This specific verse does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; it reflects the Purāṇic synthesis indirectly by framing sacred action (snāna at a tīrtha) as universally dharmic and spiritually efficacious—an approach shared across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava devotional milieus within the Kurma Purana.