Padma Purana — Svarga Khanda, Shloka 97
Tīrtha-Māhātmya Sequence: Sacred Fords, Baths, Gifts, and Śrāddha
Narmadā-Belt Itinerary
सोमतीर्थे मृतो यस्तु नासौ मर्त्येभिजायते । स्तंभतीर्थं ततो गच्छेत्स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्
somatīrthe mṛto yastu nāsau martyebhijāyate | staṃbhatīrthaṃ tato gacchetsnānaṃ tatra samācaret
ਜੋ ਸੋਮਤੀਰਥ ਤੇ ਮਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਮੁੜ ਮਰਤ ਲੋਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਨਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੈਂਦਾ। ਫਿਰ ਸਤੰਭਤੀਰਥ ਨੂੰ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਉੱਥੇ ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਨਾਨ ਕਰੇ।
Unspecified (contextual narrator within Svargakhaṇḍa; exact dialogue speaker not provided in the input)
Concept: Certain tīrthas are described as gateways that sever saṃsāric return; pilgrimage is not random but a dharmic sequence culminating in higher attainment.
Application: Treat sacred practices as a coherent path: begin with purification (snāna/vrata), then proceed stepwise to deeper devotion and higher tīrthas rather than seeking quick results.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At Soma-tīrtha, a pilgrim’s final breath is shown as a serene release, with priests chanting beside moonlit waters; the scene is solemn yet luminous, suggesting ‘non-return.’ The composition then shifts to a path lined with stone pillars (stambhas) leading to Stambha-tīrtha, where pilgrims descend for a prescribed, orderly snāna.","primary_figures":["departing pilgrim","tīrtha priests","traveling devotees","guardian deity of Stambha-tīrtha (symbolic)"],"setting":"Two linked sacred fords: Soma-tīrtha ghat under crescent sky; a pilgrimage road to Stambha-tīrtha marked by pillar-like stones and a bathing platform.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["smoky quartz","silver-blue","stone gray","lamp amber","lotus white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: diptych—left panel Soma-tīrtha with crescent moon and ritual attendants, right panel Stambha-tīrtha with prominent gold-leaf stambhas framing the ghat; ornate borders, rich reds/greens, gold leaf emphasizing pillars and sacred aura.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: narrative sequence in one frame—moonlit ghat, then a winding path with slender stone pillars to another ford; delicate figures, cool palette, subtle emotional restraint, fine detailing of water ripples and prayer gestures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized pillars (stambhas) dominating the composition, pilgrims performing snāna; bold outlines, symmetrical temple-like framing, warm reds/yellows with cool white-blue accents for water and moon.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Stambha-tīrtha rendered as a lotus pond bordered by repeating pillar motifs and floral vines; pilgrims in procession; deep blue ground with gold/white ornamentation, intricate border patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["river current","mantra chant drone","temple bells","conch shell (soft)","night breeze"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मर्त्येभिजायते = मर्त्येभिः + जायते; गच्छेत्स्नानं = गच्छेत् + स्नानम्.
FAQs
It states that a person who dies at Soma-tīrtha does not take birth again among mortals, implying liberation from human rebirth.
It presents a pilgrimage sequence: after Soma-tīrtha, one is instructed to proceed to Stambha-tīrtha and complete the rite of sacred bathing (snāna) as a proper observance.
The verse emphasizes disciplined religious practice—undertaking pilgrimage with prescribed rites—linking sacred geography (tīrthas) to spiritual aims like purification and release from rebirth.