Shloka 6
Narmadā Māhātmya with the Praise of Amarakantaka Tīrthas
पुण्या कनखले गङ्गा कुरुक्षेत्रे सरस्वती । ग्रामे वा यदि वारण्ये पुण्या सर्वत्र नर्म्मदा
puṇyā kanakhale gaṅgā kurukṣetre sarasvatī | grāme vā yadi vāraṇye puṇyā sarvatra narmmadā
Die Gaṅgā ist in Kanakhala heilig; die Sarasvatī ist in Kurukṣetra heilig. Doch ob im Dorf oder im Wald: Die Narmadā ist überall heilig.
Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within Svarga-khaṇḍa context)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वारण्ये = वा + अरण्ये; नर्म्मदा = नर्मदा (द्वित्वं पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर-प्रभावः)।
FAQs
It distinguishes place-specific holiness (Gaṅgā at Kanakhala, Sarasvatī at Kurukṣetra) from Narmadā’s non-localized sanctity, presenting a map of sacred power tied either to particular sites or to an entire river-course.
By portraying sacred access as widely available—especially through Narmadā’s ever-present purity—it supports a devotional worldview where divine grace is not restricted to elite pilgrimage centers alone.
Spiritual merit is not limited by one’s location or circumstances; even away from famous holy sites, one can pursue purity and merit through reverence, right conduct, and remembrance associated with sacred waters.