Shloka 11

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Catalog of Sacred Places and the Supreme Inner Tīrtha

Devanagari script

महा केशी च कावेरी चन्द्रभागा विपाशया / एकाम्रं च तथा तीर्थं ब्रह्मेशं देवकोटकम्

Transliteration

mahā keśī ca kāverī candrabhāgā vipāśayā / ekāmraṃ ca tathā tīrthaṃ brahmeśaṃ devakoṭakam

Translation

മഹാകേശീ, കാവേരി, ചന്ദ്രഭാഗാ, വിപാശാ; അതുപോലെ ഏകാമ്ര തീർത്ഥം, ബ്രഹ്മേശം, ദേവകോടകം—ഇവ പ്രസിദ്ധ പുണ്യതീർത്ഥങ്ങളാണ്.

Word by Word

• महाकेशी: (the river/holy place) Mahākeśī
• महाकेशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकेशी (प्रातिपदिक; महा + केशी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कावेरी: Kāverī (river)
• कावेरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कावेरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चन्द्रभागा: Candrabhāgā (river)
• चन्द्रभागा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रभागा (प्रातिपदिक; चन्द्र + भागा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विपाशया: with Vipāśā (river)
• विपाशया: Sahakarana (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपाशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एकाम्रम्: Ekāmra (holy place)
• एकाम्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाम्र (प्रातिपदिक; एक + आम्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: “likewise/so”)

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मेशम्: Brahmeśa (name of a tīrtha/deity)
• ब्रह्मेशम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मेश (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• देवकोटकम्: Devakoṭaka (holy place)
• देवकोटकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकोटक (प्रातिपदिक; देव + कोटक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-sevā and tīrtha-smaraṇa as purifying dharmic acts that support merit and spiritual readiness.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) as a preparatory means toward higher realization.

Application: Keep a vrata of visiting (or mentally honoring) tīrthas; cultivate cleanliness, restraint, and charity while traveling; treat rivers/kshetras as living sacred trusts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: rivers and tīrthas (sacred fords/kshetras)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.81 (tīrtha-mahātmyas continuing list)

Characters & Entities

• Mahākeśī
• Kāverī
• Candrabhāgā
• Vipāśā
• Ekāmra
• Brahmeśa
• Devakoṭaka

FAQs

What is the importance of listing tīrthas like Kāverī and Candrabhāgā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights renowned rivers and pilgrimage sites as sources of puṇya (spiritual merit), reinforcing the Purāṇic emphasis on tīrtha-yātrā and sacred bathing as supports for purification and dharma.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like karma and purification?

By naming specific tīrthas, the text points to traditional means of reducing pāpa (demerit) and strengthening auspicious karma through pilgrimage, worship, and ritual observances performed at sanctified places.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred places as opportunities for ethical renewal: combine pilgrimage or river worship with vows of truthful living, charity, and restraint—so the outer journey supports inner purification.