Shloka 13

Puruṣottama-māhātmya

The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra

Devanagari script

तथा समस्ततीर्थानां वरिष्ठं पुरषोत्तमम् । वसूनां पावको यद्वद्रुद्राणां शंकरो यथा ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tathā samastatīrthānāṃ variṣṭhaṃ puraṣottamam | vasūnāṃ pāvako yadvadrudrāṇāṃ śaṃkaro yathā || 13 ||

Translation

Likewise, among all sacred pilgrimage places, Puruṣottama is the foremost—just as Pāvaka (Fire) is chief among the Vasus, and Śaṅkara is chief among the Rudras.

Word by Word

• tathā: so/likewise
• tathā: Discourse connector (सम्बन्ध-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (तुलना/अन्वय-अव्यय)

• samasta-tīrthānām: of all the pilgrimage places
• samasta-tīrthānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः—समस्तानि तीर्थानि

• variṣṭham: the best/supreme
• variṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: variṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक; superlative of vṛddha/vara)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); superlative (तमप्/इष्ठ) used adjectivally

• puruṣa-uttamam: Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person)
• puruṣa-uttamam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—पुरुषेषु उत्तमः (name/title: Puruṣottama)

• vasūnām: of the Vasus
• vasūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pāvakaḥ: Agni (fire)
• pāvakaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yadvat: just as
• yadvat: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (यद्वत् = यथा)

• rudrāṇām: of the Rudras
• rudrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṃkaraḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle/adverb (उपमा-अव्यय)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; verse presented as a doctrinal assertion within Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama
• Pāvaka (Agni)
• Vasus
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Rudras

FAQs

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

It establishes a hierarchy of sacred power: Puruṣottama is declared the supreme tīrtha, using well-known Vedic-style comparisons (chief among a class) to affirm its unrivaled merit for dharma and purification.

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

By naming Puruṣottama as the foremost among tīrthas, it implicitly directs the devotee toward Viṣṇu-centered worship and remembrance at the highest holy locus, framing pilgrimage as an aid to Viṣṇu-bhakti and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse uses a traditional classificatory method (gaṇa/varṣa-style ‘best among a group’) common in śāstric discourse; it supports ritual decision-making in tīrtha-yātrā by prioritizing a principal kṣetra over secondary sites.