Narmadā-tīrtha-māhātmya — Bhṛgu-tīrtha to Sāgara-saṅgama
Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit
ततो गच्छेत राजेन्द्र भारभूतिमनुत्तमम् / उपोषितोर्ऽचयेदीशं रुद्रलोके महीयते / अस्मिंस्तीर्थे मृतो राजन् गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात्
tato gaccheta rājendra bhārabhūtimanuttamam / upoṣitor'cayedīśaṃ rudraloke mahīyate / asmiṃstīrthe mṛto rājan gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt
次に、王の中の王よ、無上のティールタ「バーラブーティ」へ進むべきである。断食してイーシャ(主シヴァ)を礼拝すれば、ルドラの世界において尊ばれる。さらに王よ、この聖なる渡処で命終する者はガナパティの位、すなわちシヴァのガナたちの中で主となる境地を得る。
Sūta (narrating Purāṇic teaching to the sages, presenting tīrtha-māhātmya as received tradition)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Indirectly: it emphasizes devotion (arcana) to Īśa through disciplined observance (fasting), implying that spiritual ascent is achieved by inner purification and God-centered orientation rather than mere ritualism.
The verse highlights upavāsa (fasting) as tapas/discipline and arcana (focused worship) as a bhakti-sādhana; together they function as preparatory practices that steady the mind and align the practitioner with Śiva’s grace.
While explicitly Shaiva (Īśa, Rudra-loka), it fits the Kurma Purana’s synthetic frame where Vishnu (as Kurma) transmits teachings that validate Śiva-worship and its fruits, reflecting a non-sectarian Purāṇic harmony.