Shloka 3
Sequential Description of Pilgrimage Fords and Their Merits
Tīrtha-Itinerary
गंगायाश्च नरश्रेष्ठ सरस्वत्याश्च संगमे । स्नातोऽश्वमेधमाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति
gaṃgāyāśca naraśreṣṭha sarasvatyāśca saṃgame | snāto'śvamedhamāpnoti svargalokaṃ ca gacchati
ឱ មនុស្សប្រសើរ អ្នកណាស្នាននៅសង្គមនៃទន្លេគង្គា និងសរស្វតី នោះទទួលបានបុណ្យស្មើអស្វមេធយជ្ញ និងទៅដល់ស្វರ್ಗលោក។
Unspecified (contextual narrator/teacher voice within Svargakhaṇḍa dialogue)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गंगायाः + च → गंगायाश्च; सरस्वत्याः + च → सरस्वत्याश्च; स्नातः + अश्वमेधम् → स्नातोऽश्वमेधम् (अवग्रह); अश्वमेधम् + आप्नोति → अश्वमेधमाप्नोति (स्वरसन्धि)।
FAQs
It presents the confluence as a highly potent tīrtha: bathing there is said to yield extraordinary religious merit.
The Aśvamedha is a paradigmatic royal sacrifice representing immense merit; the verse uses it as a benchmark to praise the fruit (phala) of tīrtha-bathing.
The verse underscores the Purāṇic theme that sincere engagement with sacred places and purificatory acts (like snāna at a tīrtha) can support spiritual uplift and auspicious destiny.