Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

उत्तरे चैव तत्कूले तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् / नाम्ना भद्रेश्वरं पुण्यं सर्वपापहरं शुभम् / तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन् दैवतैः सह मोहते

Transliteration

uttare caiva tatkūle tīrthaṃ trailokyaviśrutam / nāmnā bhadreśvaraṃ puṇyaṃ sarvapāpaharaṃ śubham / tatra snātvā naro rājan daivataiḥ saha mohate

Translation

Et sur la rive septentrionale de ce fleuve, ô Roi, se trouve un gué sacré renommé dans les trois mondes, nommé Bhadreśvara — pur, auspicious et qui efface tous les péchés. S’y baignant, ô Roi, l’homme se réjouit avec les dieux.

Word by Word

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘in the northern (part)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण

• तत्कूले: on its bank
• तत्कूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम) + कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य कूले); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford/place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here nominative singular

• त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्: renowned in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/अधिकरण-तत्पुरुष (त्रैलोक्ये विश्रुतम्); क्त-कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by name’

• भद्रेश्वरम्: Bhadreśvara
• भद्रेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (भद्रः ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; name of the tīrtha/linga

• पुण्यम्: holy
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying tīrthaṃ

• सर्वपापहरम्: removing all sins
• सर्वपापहरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having bathed’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• दैवतैः: with the deities
• दैवतैः: Sahakarana (सहकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• मोहते: is deluded/enchanted
• मोहते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘is deluded/charms’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing King Indradyumna (tirtha-mahatmya context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhadreshvara
• Daivatas (gods)
• Tirtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames purification (pāpa-kṣaya) and auspiciousness (śubha) as prerequisites for higher realization; by removing impurity through tirtha-snānā, one becomes fit for dharma and knowledge that culminate in knowing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights śauca (purificatory discipline) through tīrtha-snānā as a foundational limb supporting Yoga-sādhana; in the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such purification stabilizes mind and conduct for later Pāśupata-oriented devotion, japa, and contemplation.

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

The tirtha is named Bhadreśvara (a Śaiva epithet), yet it is taught by Lord Kurma (Viṣṇu), reflecting the Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Śiva-tattva and guidance from Viṣṇu are presented as harmonious paths within one dharmic framework.