Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

घृतेन स्नापयेद् रुद्रं सघृतं श्रीफलं दहेत् / घण्टाभरणसंयुक्तां कपिलां वै प्रदापयेत्

Transliteration

ghṛtena snāpayed rudraṃ saghṛtaṃ śrīphalaṃ dahet / ghaṇṭābharaṇasaṃyuktāṃ kapilāṃ vai pradāpayet

Translation

നെയ്യുകൊണ്ട് രുദ്രനു അഭിഷേകം ചെയ്യണം, നെയ്യോടുകൂടിയ ശ്രീഫലം (തേങ്ങ) അഗ്നിയിൽ ഹോമമായി അർപ്പിക്കണം; കൂടാതെ മണിയും ആഭരണങ്ങളും ധരിച്ച കപിലാ പശുവിനെ ദാനം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• ghṛtena: with ghee
• ghṛtena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनम्

• snāpayet: should bathe (cause to bathe)
• snāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: cause to bathe)

• rudram: Rudra (Śiva)
• rudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• sa-ghṛtam: together with ghee
• sa-ghṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः—‘सघृतम्’ = घृतेन सह (together with ghee)

• śrī-phalam: coconut
• śrī-phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रियाः फलम्’ (commonly: coconut)

• dahet: should burn/offer into fire
• dahet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• ghaṇṭā-bharaṇa-saṃyuktām: adorned with bell-ornaments
• ghaṇṭā-bharaṇa-saṃyuktām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghaṇṭā + bharaṇa + saṃyukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘घण्टाभरणैः संयुक्ता’ (endowed with bell-ornaments)

• kapilām: a tawny cow
• kapilām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• vai: indeed
• vai: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• pradāpayet: should donate/give
• pradāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + dā (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिच् (causative: cause to be given / give as donation)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing on Śiva-worship and dāna as dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Lord Kurma
• Agni (fire offering)
• Kapila cow (kapilā)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames the Supreme as approachable through īśvara-upāsanā: honoring Rudra with abhiṣeka and dāna disciplines the mind toward the one Lord revered in multiple forms, a hallmark of the Kūrma Purāṇa’s integrative theology.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes karma-yoga through ritual action (abhiṣeka, homa) and dāna as purificatory disciplines that support steadiness (śuddhi) and devotion—foundational supports for higher contemplative practice in the Purāṇic yoga framework.

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

With Viṣṇu as Kūrma teaching Śiva’s worship, the text models harmony rather than rivalry: devotion to Rudra is presented as dharmic and spiritually efficacious within a Vaiṣṇava-delivered instruction, reflecting Śiva–Viṣṇu unity.