Shloka 33

Glorification of the Yamunā (Yamuna Mahatmya) and Prayāga’s Step-by-Step Aśvamedha Merit

Devanagari script

केवलं श्रेष्ठभावेन गंगा सर्वत्र पूज्यते । एवं कुरुष्व कौंतेय स्वर्गतीर्थाभिषेचनम्

Transliteration

kevalaṃ śreṣṭhabhāvena gaṃgā sarvatra pūjyate | evaṃ kuruṣva kauṃteya svargatīrthābhiṣecanam

Translation

Hanya kerana keunggulan tertingginya, Gangga dipuja di mana-mana. Maka, wahai putera Kuntī, lakukanlah mandi suci (abhiseka) di tirtha syurga (svarga-tīrtha) dengan cara yang sama.

Word by Word

• kevalam: only
• kevalam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial: ‘only’)

• śreṣṭha-bhāvena: by (her) superiority/excellence
• śreṣṭha-bhāvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (śreṣṭhasya bhāvaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom./कर्ता), एकवचन

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: everywhere)

• pūjyate: is worshipped
• pūjyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: thus)

• kuruṣva: do/perform
• kuruṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• kauṃteya: O son of Kuntī
• kauṃteya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaunteya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Voc.), एकवचन

• svarga-tīrtha-abhiṣecanam: the ablution at the heavenly tīrtha
• svarga-tīrtha-abhiṣecanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiṣecana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (svargasya tīrtham; tasya abhiṣecanam); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc./कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent; a narrator/teacher addressing a Kaunteya).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: svargatīrthābhiṣecanam → svarga + tīrtha + abhiṣecanam.

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Kaunteya

FAQs

Why does the verse say the Gaṅgā is worshipped everywhere?

It attributes Gaṅgā’s universal veneration to her “śreṣṭha-bhāva” (supreme excellence), implying an intrinsic sanctity that makes her worthy of worship in all places.

What practice is being instructed by “svarga-tīrthābhiṣecanam”?

It refers to performing ritual bathing/ablution at a sacred tīrtha associated with heaven (svarga), emphasizing tīrtha-snān (pilgrimage bathing) as a meritorious act.

What ethical or devotional lesson does this verse convey?

It encourages reverence for sacred realities (like Gaṅgā) based on recognized spiritual excellence, and urges disciplined participation in purifying rites rather than casual or dismissive attitudes toward pilgrimage practices.