Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

शुक्लतीर्थात् परं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति / पूर्वे वयसि कर्माणि कृत्वा पापानि मानवः / अहोरात्रोपवासेन शुक्लतीर्थे व्यपोहति

Transliteration

śuklatīrthāt paraṃ tīrthaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati / pūrve vayasi karmāṇi kṛtvā pāpāni mānavaḥ / ahorātropavāsena śuklatīrthe vyapohati

Translation

No holy place is higher than Śuklatīrtha—none has existed before, and none will arise in the future. One who committed sinful acts earlier in life can wipe them away at Śuklatīrtha by observing a complete fast for one day and night (ahorātra-upavāsa).

Word by Word

• शुक्ल-तीर्थात्: than/from Śukla-tīrtha
• शुक्ल-तीर्थात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः

• परम्: higher, superior
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• भूतम्: has been (in the past)
• भूतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु) → भूत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘past/been’ (elliptic with तीर्थम्)

• न: nor/not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पूर्वे: in earlier
• पूर्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वयसि)

• वयसि: in age (youth/earlier life)
• वयसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कर्माणि: deeds, actions
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); ‘having done’

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• मानवः: a human being
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अहोरात्र-उपवासेन: by a day-and-night fast
• अहोरात्र-उपवासेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अहोरात्रस्य उपवासेन)

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

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

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing in a tīrtha-māhātmya context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śuklatīrtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification (śuddhi) through tīrtha and vrata as a prerequisite for higher knowledge—cleansing pāpa supports steadiness of mind, which is classically required for realizing the ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Ahorātra-upavāsa (day-and-night fasting) is highlighted as a discipline (vrata/tapas) that functions as prāyaścitta and mental purification—often treated as preparatory to japa, dhyāna, and other yogic observances in Purāṇic sādhanā.

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

This specific verse is not explicitly sectarian; it presents a shared Purāṇic dharma framework where tīrtha, vrata, and purification are universally efficacious—compatible with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis.