Shloka 35
Tīrtha-Māhātmya of the Sarasvatī Region and the Praise of Kurukṣetra
Pilgrimage Merits
पुण्यमाहुः कुरुक्षेत्रं कुरुक्षेत्रात्सरस्वतीम् । सरस्वत्याश्च तीर्थानि तीर्थेभ्यश्च पृथूदकम्
puṇyamāhuḥ kurukṣetraṃ kurukṣetrātsarasvatīm | sarasvatyāśca tīrthāni tīrthebhyaśca pṛthūdakam
കുരുക്ഷേത്രം പരമ പുണ്യമെന്ന് അവർ പറയുന്നു; കുരുക്ഷേത്രത്തേക്കാൾ പുണ്യമേറിയത് സരസ്വതി; സരസ്വതിയുടെ തീർത്ഥങ്ങൾ അതിലും പുണ്യമേറിയവ; ആ തീർത്ഥങ്ങളേക്കാൾ പുണ്യതമം പൃഥൂദകം।
Unspecified (narratorial/quoted tradition: 'they say')
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुण्यमाहुः = पुण्यम् + आहुः; कुरुक्षेत्रात्सरस्वतीम् = कुरुक्षेत्रात् + सरस्वतीम्; सरस्वत्याश्च = सरस्वत्याः + च; तीर्थेभ्यश्च = तीर्थेभ्यः + च
FAQs
It presents a graded sacred geography: Kurukṣetra is holy, Sarasvatī is holier, the tīrthas along Sarasvatī are holier still, and Pṛthūdaka is singled out as the most meritorious among them.
Indirectly, it supports devotional practice by valuing pilgrimage and sacred remembrance: visiting and venerating tīrthas is portrayed as a potent aid for cultivating faith, purity, and God-centered living.
It encourages intentional spiritual effort—seeking uplifting places and practices—while implying that merit increases with deeper engagement in sacred spaces rather than complacency with what is merely well-known.