Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

अनाथं दुर्गतं विप्रं नाथवन्तमथापि वा / उद्वादयति यस्तीर्थे तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

Transliteration

anāthaṃ durgataṃ vipraṃ nāthavantamathāpi vā / udvādayati yastīrthe tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu

Translation

Écoute le fruit du mérite : quiconque, en un tīrtha sacré, relève et secourt un brāhmane—qu’il soit démuni et sans appui, ou même déjà pourvu de protecteurs—acquiert un grand mérite spirituel.

Word by Word

• अनाथम्: a helpless (person)
• अनाथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; adjective used substantively

• दुर्गतम्: fallen into misfortune
• दुर्गतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; qualifying the object

• विप्रम्: a Brahmin
• विप्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नाथवन्तम्: one who has a protector
• नाथवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाथवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; adjective (having a protector)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (emphasis/sequence)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (option/alternation)

• उद्वादयति: proclaims/announces
• उद्वादयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+वाद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; causative/denominative sense ‘to cause to speak/announce’

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; relative pronoun

• तीर्थे: at a sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• पुण्यफलम्: the fruit of merit
• पुण्यफलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यस्य फलम्)

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a dharma-teaching dialogue

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames compassion and upliftment as dharma that purifies the mind, making it fit for Self-knowledge; merit (puṇya) supports the inner clarity needed for realizing the Atman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes preparatory discipline—service and generosity at tīrthas—as an ethical foundation that complements Kurma Purana’s broader yoga orientation (purification before higher contemplation).

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

While not naming them, it reflects the Purana’s unified dharma-vision: devotion and righteous action at sacred spaces function as common ground for Shaiva-Vaishnava practice leading toward the same spiritual purification.