Shloka 12

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Catalog of Sacred Places and the Supreme Inner Tīrtha

Devanagari script

मथुरा च पुरी रम्या शोणश्चैव महानदः / जम्बूसरो महातीर्थं तानि तीर्थानि विद्धि च

Transliteration

mathurā ca purī ramyā śoṇaścaiva mahānadaḥ / jambūsaro mahātīrthaṃ tāni tīrthāni viddhi ca

Translation

Ketahuilah ini sebagai tempat ziarah suci: Mathurā, kota yang indah mempesona; Sungai Śoṇa, sungai besar; dan Jambūsara, tīrtha yang amat utama kesuciannya.

Word by Word

• मथुरा: Mathurā
• मथुरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मथुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुरी: the city (Purī)
• पुरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रम्या: beautiful
• रम्या: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुरी)

• शोणः: Śoṇa (river)
• शोणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: “indeed/just”)

• महानदः: Mahānada (great river; name)
• महानदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानद (प्रातिपदिक; महा + नद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जम्बूसरः: Jambūsara (holy place)
• जम्बूसरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बूसर (प्रातिपदिक; जम्बू + सर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महातीर्थम्: a great tīrtha
• महातीर्थम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; महा + तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन

• तीर्थानि: tīrthas
• तीर्थानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन

• विद्धि: know (recognize)
• विद्धि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred places are recognized as supports for devotion and purification; right knowledge of tīrthas guides religious life.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti aided by sādhana-sāhāyaka (supportive means) leading to citta-śuddhi.

Application: Undertake yātrā to Mathurā with nāma-japa and dāna; perform snāna in rivers with sankalpa; keep a tīrtha-list for regular remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city (puri), river, and mahātīrtha (supreme ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.81 (continuation of tīrtha enumeration and their fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Mathurā
• Śoṇa River
• Jambūsara
• Tīrthas

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrthas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats specific locations as tīrthas—places believed to confer purification and spiritual merit (puṇya) through remembrance, visitation, and sacred observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing tīrtha knowledge and merit, it points to dharmic supports—puṇya and purification—that the text often presents as beneficial for one’s post-death journey and spiritual welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain reverence for sacred places, practice ethical living that supports puṇya, and—when possible—undertake pilgrimage or devotional remembrance with disciplined conduct.