Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 25

The Glory of Guru-Tīrtha: The Guru as Supreme Pilgrimage

Prelude: Cyavana and the Parable Cycle

Devanagari script

नर्मदा दक्षिणे कूले नाम्ना अमरकंटकम् । ददर्श सुमहालिगं सर्वेषां गतिदायकम्

Transliteration

narmadā dakṣiṇe kūle nāmnā amarakaṃṭakam | dadarśa sumahāligaṃ sarveṣāṃ gatidāyakam

Translation

नर्मदेच्या दक्षिण तीरावर ‘अमरकंटक’ नावाच्या स्थानी त्याने एक अतिमहान लिंगाचे दर्शन घेतले, जे सर्वांना परमगती देणारे आहे।

Word by Word

• नर्मदा: (at) Narmadā (river)
• नर्मदा: Adhikarana (Locative sense via apposition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: on the southern
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कूले)

• कूले: bank
• कूले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘नाम्ना’ = ‘by name’

• अमरकंटकम्: Amarakanṭaka
• अमरकंटकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमरकण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; स्थाननाम (proper noun)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुमहालिगम्: a very great liṅga
• सुमहालिगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (‘सु-महा लिङ्गम्’ = very great liṅga); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश

• गतिदायकम्: bestowing liberation/destination
• गतिदायकम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (‘गतिं ददाति’/‘गतेः दायकः’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying लिङ्गम्)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; specific speaker not stated in the given single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: अमरकंटकम् = अमरकण्टकम् (अनुस्वार/णत्व लेखभेद); सुमहालिगम् = सु + महा + लिङ्गम् (समास)

Characters & Entities

• Narmadā
• Amarakaṇṭaka
• Liṅga (Śiva)

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the geography of sacred Tīrthas?

It locates a sacred site—Amarakaṇṭaka—specifically on the southern bank of the Narmadā, presenting it as a recognized tīrtha landscape within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa.

How does this verse emphasize the path of Bhakti?

By portraying the Liṅga as “gatidāyaka” (granting the highest destination), it frames devotional encounter (darśana) with the deity at a tīrtha as spiritually transformative and goal-bestowing.

What is the ethical lesson from this dialogue?

The verse implies reverence for sacred places and symbols, encouraging pilgrimage, humility, and faith that sincere approach to the divine can elevate one’s life-direction (gati).