Shloka 96
Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits
गङ्गेश्वरसमीपे तु गङ्गावदनमुत्तमम् / अकामो वा सकामो वा तत्र स्नात्वा तु मानवः / आजन्मजनितैः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
gaṅgeśvarasamīpe tu gaṅgāvadanamuttamam / akāmo vā sakāmo vā tatra snātvā tu mānavaḥ / ājanmajanitaiḥ pāpairmucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ
Di dekat Gaṅgeśvara terdapat ‘Mulut Gaṅgā’ (Gaṅgā-vadana) yang paling utama. Baik tanpa keinginan maupun dengan suatu niat, siapa pun yang mandi suci di sana dibebaskan dari dosa yang terkumpul sejak lahir—tanpa keraguan.
Traditional narration within the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya section (sage-to-sage/puranic narrator voice, presenting the merit of a Ganga tirtha near Gangeśvara).
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
Indirectly, by stressing purification: when sins (pāpa) are removed through sacred discipline (tīrtha-snana), the mind becomes fit for Self-knowledge; the verse focuses on preparatory purification rather than defining Ātman.
It highlights tīrtha-snana as a purificatory aid and distinguishes niṣkāma (desireless) and sa-kāma (desire-motivated) approaches—echoing the Kurma Purana’s broader ethic that purity of intention supports higher yogic steadiness and inner clarity.
By locating Ganga’s salvific power ‘near Gangeśvara’ (a Shiva-linked locus) within a Vaishnava Purana, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative vision where Shiva-tirthas and Vishnu’s puranic teaching coexist within one sacred economy of purification.