Shloka 1
The Greatness of Puṣkara: Tripuṣkara Pilgrimage, Sacred Geography, and the Doctrine of Self-Restraint
भीष्म उवाच । पुष्करस्य च नंदायाः श्रुतं माहात्म्यमुत्तमं । ऋषिकोटिर्यदायाता पुष्करे मुखदर्शनात्
bhīṣma uvāca | puṣkarasya ca naṃdāyāḥ śrutaṃ māhātmyamuttamaṃ | ṛṣikoṭiryadāyātā puṣkare mukhadarśanāt
ভীষ্মে ক’লে: পুষ্কৰ আৰু নন্দাৰ পৰম মাহাত্ম্য মই শুনিছোঁ—পুষ্কৰৰ পবিত্ৰ ‘মুখ’ৰ দৰ্শন কৰাত এক কোটি ঋষি তাত আহি উপস্থিত হৈছিল।
Bhīṣma
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भीष्म उवाच→भीष्मः उवाच; माहात्म्यमुत्तमं→माहात्म्यम् उत्तमम्; ऋषिकोटिर्यदायाता→ऋषिकोटिः यदा आयाता; मुखदर्शनात् (समास)
FAQs
It frames Puṣkara as exceptionally powerful: merely seeing its ‘mukha’ (the foremost sacred point) is said to draw vast numbers of sages, highlighting its fame and magnetism as a pilgrimage center.
Bhīṣma is speaking. He introduces the topic by saying he has heard the excellent māhātmya (glorification) of Puṣkara and Nandā and cites a traditional claim about sages gathering there.
The verse implies reverence for tīrthas and the value of darśana (sacred seeing): approaching holy places with faith and attentiveness is portrayed as spiritually significant and tradition-affirming.