Shloka 44
The Glory of Gayā and the Pilgrimage Circuit of Allied Tīrthas
समुद्रास्तत्रचत्वारः कूपे सन्निहिताः सदा । तत्रोपस्पृश्य राजेंद्र न दुर्गतिमवाप्नुयात्
samudrāstatracatvāraḥ kūpe sannihitāḥ sadā | tatropaspṛśya rājeṃdra na durgatimavāpnuyāt
Là, quatre océans demeurent à jamais présents dans un puits. Ô meilleur des rois, en y accomplissant l’ablution rituelle, nul n’atteint une destinée funeste.
Unspecified narrator addressing a king (rājendra) within the Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogue context
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: samudrāḥ tatra catvāraḥ → samudrās-tatra-catvāraḥ (ḥ+t→s); tatra upaspṛśya → tatropaspṛśya (a+u→o); avāpnoti/avāpnuyāt sandhi: durgatim avāpnuyāt (m+a).
FAQs
It presents a typical Purāṇic sacred-geography motif: immense cosmic waters (the “four oceans”) are mystically accessible at a localized pilgrimage spot (a well), implying that the sacred can concentrate the vast cosmos into a single tirtha.
Rather than philosophical doctrine, it emphasizes devotional practice through reverent contact with a sacred site—ritual purification (upaspṛśya/snana) undertaken with faith is portrayed as spiritually protective.
It underscores the value of purity of conduct supported by sacred rites: performing prescribed purification at a holy place is taught as a safeguard against “durgati” (a harmful moral/spiritual outcome).