Shloka 4

Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Discipline of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha-sevā) within Prāyaścitta

Devanagari script

तीर्थानां च परं तीर्थं वितस्ता परमा नदी / सर्वपापहरा पुण्या स्वयमेव गिरीन्द्रजा

Transliteration

tīrthānāṃ ca paraṃ tīrthaṃ vitastā paramā nadī / sarvapāpaharā puṇyā svayameva girīndrajā

Translation

Unter allen Tīrthas ist die Vitastā die höchste Tīrtha; unter den Flüssen ist sie die erhabenste. Heilig und verdienstspendend tilgt sie alle Sünden — wahrlich ist sie die Tochter des Herrn der Berge (Himālaya), aus eigener Macht offenbar geworden.

Word by Word

• tīrthānām: of sacred fords
• tīrthānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (tīrtham)

• tīrtham: sacred ford
• tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म/उद्देश्य (predicate accusative)

• vitastā: Vitastā (river)
• vitastā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitastā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• paramā: supreme
• paramā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (vitastā/nadī)

• nadī: river
• nadī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता (apposition to vitastā)

• sarvapāpaharā: remover of all sins
• sarvapāpaharā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva-pāpa-hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (vitastā/nadī)

• puṇyā: holy
• puṇyā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• svayam: by herself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• girīndrajā: daughter of the king of mountains (Pārvatī)
• girīndrajā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri-indra-jā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता/विशेष्य (apposition)

Speaker

Narrator in the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya context (Puranic discourse tradition, commonly framed through Suta/Vyasa-style narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vitasta
• Girindra (Himalaya)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purification (pāpa-kṣaya) through contact with a sacred tirtha, preparing the seeker for higher knowledge of the Self taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No technique is described explicitly; the verse emphasizes śuddhi (purification) through tirtha-sevā—pilgrimage, bathing, and reverent conduct—often treated as supportive disciplines that steady the mind for Yoga and devotion.

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

Not explicitly; it reflects the Purana’s integrative spirit by presenting sacred geography and purity as universal aids to dharma and liberation, compatible with both Shaiva (Pāśupata) and Vaishnava devotional frameworks.