Shloka 2

Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

मुनिभिः संस्तुता ह्येषा नर्मदा प्रवरा नदी / रुद्रगात्राद् विनिष्क्रान्ता लोकानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

munibhiḥ saṃstutā hyeṣā narmadā pravarā nadī / rudragātrād viniṣkrāntā lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

ഈ നർമദാ മുനിമാർ സ്തുതിച്ച, നദികളിൽ പരമ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ; ലോകങ്ങളുടെ ഹിതം ആഗ്രഹിച്ച് റുദ്രന്റെ ദേഹത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഉദ്ഭവിച്ചവൾ।

Word by Word

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• संस्तुता: praised
• संस्तुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+स्तु (धातु) → संस्तुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past passive participle

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• एषा: this (she)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• नर्मदा: Narmadā
• नर्मदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper noun

• प्रवरा: excellent, foremost
• प्रवरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; superlative sense ‘excellent’

• नदी: river
• नदी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रुद्रगात्रात्: from Rudra’s body
• रुद्रगात्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• विनिष्क्रान्ता: emerged, came out
• विनिष्क्रान्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+निस्+क्रम् (धातु) → विनिष्क्रान्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having come forth’

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• हितकाम्यया: with the desire for welfare (of beings)
• हितकाम्यया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (हितस्य काम्या); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (cause/means)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse, within the Kurma Purana’s tīrtha context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narmadā
• Rudra (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly, it presents a Purāṇic theology where divine compassion manifests in the world: the sacred river arises from Rudra for universal welfare, reflecting the idea that the highest reality expresses itself as grace (anugraha) for beings.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse; its yogic implication is tīrtha-sevā—approaching sacred geography with purity and devotion, which supports inner discipline (śauca, bhakti) that the Kurma Purana elsewhere connects with Pāśupata-oriented spiritual life.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By grounding a major tīrtha in Rudra’s divine body, it reinforces the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: sacred power is not sectarian but a unified divine economy where Śaiva sanctity harmonizes with the broader Purāṇic vision also upheld by Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu).