Shloka 97
Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits
तस्य वै पश्चिमे देशे समीपे नातिदूरतः / दशाश्वमेधिकं तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
tasya vai paścime deśe samīpe nātidūrataḥ / daśāśvamedhikaṃ tīrthaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam
దాని పశ్చిమ దేశంలో, సమీపంలోనే ఎక్కువ దూరం కాకుండా, ‘దశాశ్వమేధిక’ అనే తీర్థం ఉంది; అది మూడు లోకాలలో ప్రసిద్ధి పొందింది.
Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya in a Purāṇic discourse)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
This verse is primarily geographic and devotional (tīrtha-māhātmya); it implies that sacred places function as supports for purification of mind (citta-śuddhi), which is a prerequisite for realizing the Atman, but it does not directly define the Atman.
No specific yogic technique is described; the practice implied is tīrtha-sevā—pilgrimage, bathing, and reverential conduct—which the Purāṇic tradition treats as an auxiliary discipline that prepares the aspirant for dhyāna and higher yoga.
The verse itself does not mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; however, within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, tīrthas are commonly presented as universally sanctifying—serving devotees across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths without sectarian exclusion.