Shloka 40
The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places
Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala
तीर्थे तत्रार्चयन् रुद्रं विष्णुं विष्णुत्वमाप्नुयात् । पञ्चाश्वमेधफलदं स्नानं तत्र प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ ४० ॥
tīrthe tatrārcayan rudraṃ viṣṇuṃ viṣṇutvamāpnuyāt | pañcāśvamedhaphaladaṃ snānaṃ tatra prakīrtitam || 40 ||
அந்த தீர்த்தத்தில் ருத்ரனை வழிபடுவோர் விஷ்ணுத் தன்மையை அடைவார். அங்கு நீராடுதல் ஐம்பது அச்வமேத யாகப் பலனுக்கு இணை எனப் புகழப்படுகிறது.
Suta (narrating the Tirtha-Mahatmya section; transmitted Narada-Purana discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)
FAQs
It elevates tirtha-seva (pilgrimage discipline) by teaching that worship at a sanctified place can culminate in viṣṇutva—union with or attainment of Viṣṇu’s state—showing the tirtha’s transformative power.
It implies that sincere arcana (worship) offered even to Rudra at this tirtha ultimately leads to Viṣṇu, reflecting the Purāṇic view that true devotion ripens into Viṣṇu-realization.
Ritual praxis is emphasized: proper snāna (purificatory bath) and arcana at a tirtha are presented as highly efficacious, functioning as a Purāṇic ritual equivalent to major śrauta merits (Aśvamedha).