Shloka 3
The Greatness of the Gaṇḍakī River and the Śālagrāma Stone
मार्गे तीर्थान्यनेकानि कुर्वन्पश्यन्महोदयम् । तापसब्राह्मणात्तेषां महिमानमथा शृणोत्
mārge tīrthānyanekāni kurvanpaśyanmahodayam | tāpasabrāhmaṇātteṣāṃ mahimānamathā śṛṇot
മാർഗത്തിൽ അദ്ദേഹം അനേകം തീർത്ഥങ്ങൾ സേവിച്ച് മഹാമംഗളം ദർശിച്ചു; തുടർന്ന് ഒരു തപസ്വി ബ്രാഹ്മണനിൽ നിന്ന് അവയുടെ മഹിമയും യശസ്സും ശ്രവിച്ചു।
Narrator (contextual; specific dialogue pair not explicit from this single verse)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तीर्थान्यनेकानि = तीर्थानि + अनेकानि; कुर्वन्पश्यन् = कुर्वन् + पश्यन्; पश्यन्महोदयम् = पश्यन् + महोदयम्; तापसब्राह्मणात्तेषाम् = तापसब्राह्मणात् + तेषाम्
FAQs
It frames tīrthas as both experiential (visited and seen) and interpretive (their deeper glory is learned through instruction), emphasizing that pilgrimage includes guidance and understanding, not only travel.
The verse highlights traditional authority: learned, austere brāhmaṇas are presented as custodians of tīrtha-mahima (the sacred significance of places), transmitting meanings, rites, and narratives attached to them.
The implied lesson is humility and receptivity: one should not merely ‘see’ holy places but also seek instruction, listen carefully, and understand their sacred purpose and proper conduct.