Shloka 31
Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha
आब्रह्मपट्टिकाद्वंद्वान्मुक्तिः पञ्चनदांबुभिः । स्वर्गनद्यभिषेकोऽपि न तथा संमतः सताम् ॥ ३१ ॥
ābrahmapaṭṭikādvaṃdvānmuktiḥ pañcanadāṃbubhiḥ | svarganadyabhiṣeko'pi na tathā saṃmataḥ satām || 31 ||
Aun la liberación de los pares de opuestos—hasta el reino de Brahmā—se dice que se alcanza por las aguas de la Pañcanadā; sin embargo, ni siquiera el baño o la unción en los ríos del cielo es tenido por los sabios como de igual (supremo) valor.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue tradition with Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It ranks sacred acts: even highly meritorious baths—whether at famed earthly confluences like Pañcanadā or even “heavenly rivers”—are still secondary in the eyes of the wise to the highest spiritual attainment, implying that inner freedom and right knowledge/steadfast dharma surpass mere ritual merit.
By relativizing even exalted tirtha-bathing, the verse nudges the seeker toward the deeper aim valued by sat (the spiritually mature): transformation of consciousness—typically fulfilled through steady devotion, remembrance, and surrender—rather than relying only on external purificatory rites.
It implicitly reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the notion of abhiṣeka and tirtha-snana, while also teaching a dharmic discernment: ritual acts yield punya, but the wise prioritize the higher soteriological goal beyond dvandva.