Shloka 46
The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places
Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala
सोमो यत्रार्चयन्नीशं रुद्रेण शिरसा धृतः । विश्वामित्रस्य भगिनी गंगया यत्र संगता ॥ ४६ ॥
somo yatrārcayannīśaṃ rudreṇa śirasā dhṛtaḥ | viśvāmitrasya bhaginī gaṃgayā yatra saṃgatā || 46 ||
This is the place where Soma worshipped the Lord (Īśa), where he was borne upon Rudra’s head, and where Viśvāmitra’s sister met and merged with the river Gaṅgā.
Suta (narrating the Tirtha-Mahatmya of Uttara-Bhaga in the Purana style)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It identifies a tirtha by linking it to divine events—Soma’s worship of Īśa, Rudra bearing Soma, and a sacred union with Gaṅgā—marking the place as exceptionally potent for pilgrimage, bathing, and worship.
Bhakti is shown through Soma’s act of arcana (worship) of Īśa: the verse presents devotion and reverence to the deity at a sanctified place as a direct means to spiritual merit and purification.
The verse primarily functions as tirtha-mahātmya (sacred geography) rather than a Vedanga lesson; practically, it supports dharma-śāstric ritual practice—tirtha-yātrā, snāna (holy bathing), and īśa-pūjā—performed with proper mantra and procedure.