Shloka 36

Puruṣottama-māhātmya

The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra

Devanagari script

तीर्थराजजले स्नात्वा पश्यंति पुरुषोत्तमम् । स्वर्गे वसंति ते मर्त्या न तु ते राजसालये ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

tīrtharājajale snātvā paśyaṃti puruṣottamam | svarge vasaṃti te martyā na tu te rājasālaye || 36 ||

Translation

ತೀರ್ಥರಾಜದ ಜಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಿ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮನ ದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡುವ ಮನುಷ್ಯರು ಸ್ವರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಲೋಕರಾಜರ ಅರಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಲ।

Word by Word

तीर्थराजजलेin the water of the king of tīrthas

स्नात्वाhaving bathed

पश्यन्तिthey see

पुरुषोत्तमम्Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person)

स्वर्गेin heaven

वसन्तिthey dwell

तेthey

मर्त्याःmortals

नnot

तुbut

तेthey

राजसालयेin the abode of rajas (passion)/worldly realm

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a Tirtha-Mahatmya section, in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

Purushottama (Vishnu)

Tirtharaja

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that tīrtha-snana (sacred bathing) combined with darśana of Puruṣottama yields a higher destiny (svarga) than worldly status, emphasizing sacred merit over political or social privilege.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is expressed as direct orientation to Viṣṇu—‘seeing Puruṣottama’—and the verse implies that devotion-centered acts (tīrtha, snāna, darśana) surpass dependence on kings and courts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: performing snāna at a prescribed tīrtha and undertaking darśana as a disciplined religious act, with an explicitly stated phala (result).