Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

गोकर्णं परमं तीर्थं तीर्थं माहिष्मती पुरी / कालञ्जरं महीतीर्थं शुक्लतीर्थमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

gokarṇaṃ paramaṃ tīrthaṃ tīrthaṃ māhiṣmatī purī / kālañjaraṃ mahītīrthaṃ śuklatīrthamanuttamam

Translation

Gokarṇa ialah tīrtha yang paling utama; kota Māhiṣmatī juga sebuah tīrtha suci. Kālañjara ialah mahā-tīrtha di bumi, dan Śukla-tīrtha tiada bandingannya.

Word by Word

• गोकर्णम्: Gokarṇa (place-name)
• गोकर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—गोः कर्णः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) प्रचलित-स्थाननाम

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• माहिष्मती: Māhiṣmatī (city)
• माहिष्मती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहिष्मती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समानाधिकरणम् (apposition to माहिष्मती)

• कालञ्जरम्: Kālañjara (place/mountain)
• कालञ्जरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• महीतीर्थम्: Mahī-tīrtha (name of a tīrtha)
• महीतीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—मही-सम्बन्धि तीर्थम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय)

• शुक्लतीर्थम्: Śukla-tīrtha
• शुक्लतीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—शुक्लं तत् तीर्थम् (कर्मधारय)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying शुक्लतीर्थम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognition of tīrtha hierarchy and the dharmic value of visiting and honoring eminent sacred sites.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a support for sattva and inner quietude; sacred geography as pedagogy for reverence.

Application: Plan pilgrimage with humility; support local dharma (annadāna, temple upkeep), and keep vows (vrata) while at tīrthas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/kshetra; sacred city; sacred mountain/fort-hill; tīrtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.81 (tīrtha-kathana)

Characters & Entities

• Gokarna
• Mahishmati
• Kalanjara
• Shukla-tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrthas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents specific tīrthas as exceptionally meritorious, implying that pilgrimage to such places is a recognized means of accruing puṇya and purification within the Purāṇic dharma framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing tīrtha-sevā (pilgrimage and reverence), it points to dharmic practices believed to support spiritual well-being and favorable outcomes after death, though it does not describe the post-death journey explicitly.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate tīrtha-bhāva—reverence for sacred spaces and ethical self-purification—through pilgrimage when possible, or by disciplined worship, charity, and restraint aligned with dharma.