Shloka 16

Sequential Description of Pilgrimage Fords and Their Merits

Tīrtha-Itinerary

Devanagari script

अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति पुण्यकृत् । ततः संध्यां समासाद्य विद्यातीर्थमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

agniṣṭomātirātrābhyāṃ phalaṃ prāpnoti puṇyakṛt | tataḥ saṃdhyāṃ samāsādya vidyātīrthamanuttamam

Translation

Aquele que pratica o mérito alcança o fruto equivalente aos ritos de Agniṣṭoma e Atirātra. Depois, ao chegar a Saṃdhyā, atinge o insuperável vau sagrado chamado Vidyā-tīrtha.

Word by Word

• अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्याम्: by (the sacrifices) Agniṣṭoma and Atirātra
• अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्याम्: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; basis of comparison/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निष्टोमातिरात्र (प्रातिपदिक: अग्निष्टोम+अतिरात्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Dual; द्वन्द्व: ‘अग्निष्टोमश्च अतिरात्रश्च’

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• प्राप्नोति: obtains
• प्राप्नोति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु) → प्राप्नोति
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present Indicative, 3rd person, Singular; परस्मैपद

• पुण्यकृत्: the meritorious doer
• पुण्यकृत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यकृत् (प्रातिपदिक: पुण्य+कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘पुण्यं करोति’ (doer of merit)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (then/from there)

• संध्याम्: Sandhyā (twilight/ritual time; also a place-name here)
• संध्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• समासाद्य: having reached
• समासाद्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्+आ+सद् (धातु) → समासाद्य (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having reached’

• विद्यातीर्थम्: the ‘Vidyā-tīrtha’ (sacred place of knowledge)
• विद्यातीर्थम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्यातीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक: विद्या+तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘विद्यायाः तीर्थम्’

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक: अन्+उत्तम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; विशेषण of ‘विद्यातीर्थम्’

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial voice within Svarga-khaṇḍa; broader dialogue context not provided in the input).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: विद्यातीर्थम्+अनुत्तमम् → विद्यातीर्थमनुत्तमम्.

Characters & Entities

• Agniṣṭoma
• Atirātra
• Saṃdhyā
• Vidyā-tīrtha

FAQs

What does this verse indicate about the spiritual ‘fruit’ (phala) of sacred observances?

It equates the merit gained here with the renowned Vedic sacrifices Agniṣṭoma and Atirātra, presenting tīrtha-related practice as capable of granting results comparable to major śrauta rites.

What is Vidyā-tīrtha in this verse?

Vidyā-tīrtha is presented as an ‘unsurpassed’ sacred ford/place associated with spiritual attainment; the verse frames it as a destination reached after accruing great merit.

What ethical or practical lesson is implied by the mention of ‘puṇyakṛt’ (doer of merit)?

The verse implies that consistent meritorious conduct and reverence toward sacred places lead to elevated results; spiritual progress is portrayed as cumulative—earned through sustained virtue and right practice.