Shloka 1
Pilgrimage Sequence on Sacred Fords (Narmadā Region): Bhṛgu-tīrtha, Śiva-vratas, and Merit Amplification
नारद उवाच । ततस्तु नरकं गच्छेत्स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । स्नातमात्रो नरस्तत्र नरकं तत्र पश्यति
nārada uvāca | tatastu narakaṃ gacchetsnānaṃ tatra samācaret | snātamātro narastatra narakaṃ tatra paśyati
ನಾರದರು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ನಂತರ ನರಕ-ತೀರ್ಥಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು; ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ಮನುಷ್ಯನು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ನರಕವನ್ನು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Nārada
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ततस्तु = ततः + तु; गच्छेत्स्नानं = गच्छेत् + स्नानम्; नरस्तत्र = नरः + तत्र
FAQs
It presents a ritual action framed within an afterlife setting: the act of snāna functions as a narrative trigger by which the person immediately gains direct vision (darśana) of Naraka, underscoring experiential knowledge of karmic consequences.
The language is place-like (“go to Naraka,” “there”), yet Purāṇic teaching often uses such geography to convey moral causality—Naraka represents the concrete fruition of harmful karma as an experienced reality.
That the results of actions are not abstract: one is made to confront the reality of suffering tied to wrongdoing, encouraging restraint, repentance, and dharmic conduct.