Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

रजकेन यथा वस्त्रं शुक्लं भवति वारिणा / आजन्मनि कृतं पापं शुक्लतीर्थे व्यपोहति / स्नानं दानं तपः श्राद्धमनन्तं तत्र दृश्यते

Transliteration

rajakena yathā vastraṃ śuklaṃ bhavati vāriṇā / ājanmani kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ śuklatīrthe vyapohati / snānaṃ dānaṃ tapaḥ śrāddhamanantaṃ tatra dṛśyate

Translation

Wie der Wäscher das Gewand mit Wasser weiß macht, so werden in Śuklatīrtha die seit der Geburt angesammelten Sünden abgewaschen. Dort erscheinen die Früchte von heiligem Bad, Gabe (dāna), Askese (tapas) und śrāddha (Ahnenopfer) als grenzenlos.

Word by Word

• रजकेन: by a washerman
• रजकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकार-अव्यय (as, just as)

• वस्त्रम्: a cloth
• वस्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुक्लम्: white, clean
• शुक्लम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वस्त्रम्)

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वारिणा: with water
• वारिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• आ-जन्मनि: throughout life
• आ-जन्मनि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः ‘जन्मपर्यन्तम्/जीवनभरम्’

• कृतम्: done, committed
• कृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (पापम्)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुक्ल-तीर्थे: at Śukla-tīrtha
• शुक्ल-तीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (शुक्लं तीर्थम्)

• व्यपोहति: removes
• व्यपोहति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-उह्/ऊह् (धातु) (vy-apo-h)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दानम्: giving, charity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनन्तम्: endless, infinite (merit)
• अनन्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्नानम्/दानम्/तपः/श्राद्धम्—समाहार)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय

• दृश्यते: is seen, is found
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages (contextual tīrtha-māhātmya discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śuklatīrtha
• snāna
• dāna
• tapaḥ
• śrāddha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By using the metaphor of washing a cloth, the verse points to purification: when karmic impurity is removed through dharmic means, the inner clarity fit for realizing the Self becomes possible—suggesting that spiritual insight depends on cleansing the mind and conduct.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes preparatory disciplines aligned with Yoga: tapas (self-discipline), dāna (selfless giving), and tīrtha-snāna (ritual purification). These are framed as supports for inner purification—an ethical and devotional foundation that complements contemplative practice in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching.

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

While not naming Śiva explicitly, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative dharma: purification through tīrthas and rites is presented as universally efficacious within a shared sacred order, consistent with the Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis rather than sectarian exclusivity.