Shloka 31

Puruṣottama-kṣetra Māhātmya: Śveta-Mādhava & Matsya-Mādhava; Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha Mārjana and Bath Liturgy

Devanagari script

यत्रासौ दृश्यते चिह्नं स्वर्गद्वारं मनोरमम् । सागरांतः समाकृष्टं काष्ठं सर्वगुणान्वितम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

yatrāsau dṛśyate cihnaṃ svargadvāraṃ manoramam | sāgarāṃtaḥ samākṛṣṭaṃ kāṣṭhaṃ sarvaguṇānvitam || 31 ||

Translation

Dort, wo jenes glückverheißende Zeichen sichtbar ist—anmutig wie ein Tor zum Himmel—befindet sich auch Holz, aus den Tiefen des Ozeans heraufgezogen, mit allen vortrefflichen Eigenschaften versehen.

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (relative adverb of place)

• असौ: that (thing/person)
• असौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• चिह्नम्: a mark/sign
• चिह्नम्: कर्म (Karma/Patient; passive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); अत्र कर्मणि-प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थानी (in passive, nominative as logical object)

• स्वर्गद्वारम्: the gate to heaven
• स्वर्गद्वारम्: सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य (Apposition to ‘चिह्नम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); “स्वर्गस्य द्वारम्”

• मनोरमम्: beautiful/charming
• मनोरमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifies स्वर्गद्वारम्/चिह्नम्)

• सागरान्तः: from the ocean’s interior/edge
• सागरान्तः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); “सागरस्य अन्तः/अन्तात्” (from within/from the end of the ocean)

• समाकृष्टम्: pulled out/drawn
• समाकृष्टम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of काष्ठम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√कृष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; “drawn/pulled”

• काष्ठम्: wood/log
• काष्ठम्: कर्म (Karma/Patient; described entity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वगुणान्वितम्: endowed with all qualities
• सर्वगुणान्वितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of काष्ठम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + गुण + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; “सर्वैः गुणैः अन्वितम्”

Speaker

Narada (narrating within a Tirtha-Mahatmya description in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that a true tīrtha can be recognized by auspicious signs (cihna) that feel like a “gateway to heaven,” and by sacred, extraordinary materials (like ocean-drawn wood) that indicate divine presence and accumulated puṇya.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By highlighting visible sacred indicators that draw the pilgrim’s mind toward reverence, it supports bhakti through darśana—seeing holy signs inspires faith, surrender, and devotional conduct at the tīrtha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects nirukta-style attention to meaningful terms (cihna, svargadvāra) and the ritual discernment used in tīrtha practice—how signs and qualifying features guide proper pilgrimage and observance.