Shloka 16
Description of the Origin of the Cosmic Egg (Brahmāṇḍa) and the Ocean as King of Tīrthas
तावद्गर्ज्जंति तीर्थानि माहात्म्यैः स्वैः पृथक् पृथक् । यावन्न तीर्थराजस्य माहात्म्यं वर्ण्यते द्विजैः ॥ १६ ॥
tāvadgarjjaṃti tīrthāni māhātmyaiḥ svaiḥ pṛthak pṛthak | yāvanna tīrtharājasya māhātmyaṃ varṇyate dvijaiḥ || 16 ||
જ્યાં સુધી દ્વિજોએ તીર્થરાજનું માહાત્મ્ય વર્ણવ્યું નથી, ત્યાં સુધી તીર્થો પોતપોતાના માહાત્મ્યને અલગ અલગ રીતે ગર્જના કરીને પ્રગટ કરે છે।
Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It teaches that among many celebrated tīrthas, there is a supreme “Tīrtharāja” whose glory eclipses others—true spiritual emphasis is placed on the highest sanctifying power as affirmed by Vedic authorities (dvijas).
By directing attention from competing claims of sacred places to the preeminent Tīrtharāja, the verse models bhakti’s principle of focusing devotion on the highest object of sanctity, as recognized and sung by learned devotees.
It highlights the role of authoritative recitation and praise (varṇana) by dvijas—linking to proper ritual transmission and textual exposition (śāstra-pravacana), rather than a specific technical Vedāṅga like jyotiṣa or vyākaraṇa.