Shloka 8

Gajendra's Deliverance — Gajendra’s Deliverance and the Protective Power of Remembrance (Japa)

Devanagari script

पुन्नागैः कर्णिकारैश्च बिल्वामलकपाटलैः चूतनीपकदम्बैश्च चन्दनागुरुचम्पकैः

Transliteration

punnāgaiḥ karṇikāraiśca bilvāmalakapāṭalaiḥ cūtanīpakadambaiśca candanāgurucampakaiḥ

Translation

Wilayah itu dihiasi pohon Punnaga dan Karnikara, Bilva, Amalaka, dan Patala; juga Cuta (mangga), Nipa, dan Kadamba; serta cendana, aguru (gaharu), dan campaka.

Speakers

• Narrator voice within Saromāhātmya (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Tirtha Mahima
• Sacred botany and grove ecology
• Auspicious fragrance and ritual materials
• Shaiva-Vaishnava shared sacred landscape (bilva within a broader tīrtha setting)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why does the Purāṇa list so many tree species in a tīrtha passage?

Tree catalogues function as ‘ecological markers’ and ritual metadata: they map the landscape’s fertility, indicate the presence of fragrant and sacred materials used in worship, and portray the tīrtha as a complete sacred habitat (vana + jala + devatā).

What is the significance of bilva appearing in this grove description?

Bilva is strongly associated with Śiva worship. Its inclusion in a lake-mahātmya underscores how tīrthas often serve multiple devotional currents; the geography supports both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava ritual life without contradiction.

Do ‘candana’ and ‘aguru’ imply anything beyond pleasant scenery?

Yes. Sandalwood and aguru are classic markers of auspiciousness and high ritual value (anulepana, dhūpa, gandha). Their presence suggests the tīrtha is fit for refined worship and that the environment itself participates in sanctification through fragrance and cooling qualities.