Shloka 44
Puruṣottama-kṣetra Māhātmya: Śveta-Mādhava & Matsya-Mādhava; Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha Mārjana and Bath Liturgy
आपो ह्यायतनं विष्णोः स चा सावम्भसांपतिः । तस्मादप्सु स इत्येवं नारायणमघापहम् ॥ ४४ ॥
āpo hyāyatanaṃ viṣṇoḥ sa cā sāvambhasāṃpatiḥ | tasmādapsu sa ityevaṃ nārāyaṇamaghāpaham || 44 ||
Die Wasser sind wahrlich die Wohnstatt Viṣṇus, und Er selbst ist der Herr der Wasser. Darum, weil Er in den Wassern weilt, wird Er so Nārāyaṇa genannt, der Vertilger der Sünden.
Narada (teaching within Uttara-Bhaga tirtha/mahatmya discourse; traditionally framed in Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It identifies sacred waters as Viṣṇu’s abode and explains the name “Nārāyaṇa” as the One who dwells in waters, emphasizing His power to remove sin (agha) through remembrance and purity connected with apah.
Bhakti is expressed through recognizing Viṣṇu’s presence in sanctifying elements like water and by invoking Nārāyaṇa as aghāpaha—devotional remembrance that turns ritual contact with water into God-centered worship.
The verse mainly supports ritual practice (snāna/ācamana) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it gives a nirukti-style etymological teaching—linking “Nārāyaṇa” to “apsu saḥ” (He is in the waters)—useful for mantra-meaning in ritual context.