Shloka 55
Tīrtha-Māhātmya Sequence: Sacred Fords, Baths, Gifts, and Śrāddha
Narmadā-Belt Itinerary
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । संगमेश्वरं ततो गच्छेत्सर्वपापहरं परम्
tatra snātvā naro rājangosahasraphalaṃ labhet | saṃgameśvaraṃ tato gacchetsarvapāpaharaṃ param
ఓ రాజా, అక్కడ స్నానం చేసినవాడు సహస్ర గోదాన ఫలంతో సమానమైన పుణ్యాన్ని పొందుతాడు. ఆపై సర్వపాపహర పరమమైన సంగమేశ్వరానికి వెళ్లాలి.
Unspecified narrator addressing a king (rājan) within the Svarga-khaṇḍa pilgrimage discourse
Concept: Snāna at a sanctified confluence yields immense puṇya and prepares one for the highest sin-removing shrine.
Application: Undertake pilgrimage with sequence and intention: begin with purification (snāna), then proceed to the principal shrine; in daily life, mirror this by cleansing mind/body before worship and by making charity a companion to devotion.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal pilgrim, guided by a sage, steps into a shimmering confluence where two rivers braid into one, while distant bells ring from Saṅgameśvara’s shrine. As he emerges from the water, a subtle aura of lifted burden surrounds him, and the path ahead leads to a stone temple crowned with a small golden kalaśa, promising total absolution.","primary_figures":["a crowned king-pilgrim (rājan)","a guiding ṛṣi/narrator","Saṅgameśvara (liṅga-shrine as sacred focus)","river-deities (personified waters)"],"setting":"River confluence tīrtha with ghāṭa steps, banyan and aśvattha trees, a small temple complex and pilgrims carrying water pots.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["river-silver","lotus pink","saffron","temple-stone gray","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a confluence ghāṭa with Saṅgameśvara temple at center, the liṅga adorned with garlands, the king-pilgrim emerging from water with folded hands; heavy gold leaf on temple vimāna and ornaments, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded borders, stylized South Indian iconography, luminous halo effects around the shrine.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical river confluence with delicate ripples, slender trees and distant hills, a sage pointing toward Saṅgameśvara; refined faces, soft shading, cool blues and muted saffron, intricate ghāṭa architecture, airy composition with fine linework.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, flat yet vibrant pigments; the king and sage at the ghāṭa, Saṅgameśvara shrine behind with lamp flames; characteristic large eyes, red-yellow-green dominance, ornamental floral borders, temple-wall aesthetic with sacred water rendered as patterned bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: confluence scene framed by lotus and creeper borders; central shrine of Saṅgameśvara with hanging lamps, peacocks at the ghāṭa edges, stylized waves and lotuses; deep indigo water, gold highlights, intricate floral motifs and devotional symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["flowing water","temple bells","conch shell","soft crowd murmur"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजन्गोसहस्रफलं = राजन् + गोसहस्रफलम्; गच्छेत्सर्वपापहरं = गच्छेत् + सर्वपापहरम्.
FAQs
It states that bathing at the specified sacred spot yields merit comparable to the renowned gift of a thousand cows (go-sahasra), highlighting tīrtha-snāna as a potent purificatory act.
Saṅgameśvara is invoked as “Lord of the confluence” (saṅgama + īśvara), a sacred Śiva-form associated with a river confluence tīrtha and praised here as the supreme remover of sins.
The verse links inner purification (bathing) with disciplined pilgrimage movement—after bathing, one should proceed to Saṅgameśvara—framing devotion and sacred travel as purposeful, sequential practices.