Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 20
Chapter 109 — Tīrtha-mahātmya
The Glory of Sacred Pilgrimage Places
तीर्थं राजगृहं पुण्यं शालग्राममघान्तकं ञ्ज्ञमिति छ भीमातीर्थमिति घ वामाद्दिवं ब्रजेदिति ज ब्रह्मलोकग इति ख , ग , घ , ङ , छ , ज च तत्र कर्णह्रदं तथेति ख भद्रकं तु ह्रदं तथेति ग , ङ च गङ्गोद्भेदमवन्तिकमिति ज वटेशं वामन्न्तीर्थं कालिकासङ्गमुत्तमं
tīrthaṃ rājagṛhaṃ puṇyaṃ śālagrāmamaghāntakaṃ ñjñamiti cha bhīmātīrthamiti gha vāmāddivaṃ brajediti ja brahmalokaga iti kha , ga , gha , ṅa , cha , ja ca tatra karṇahradaṃ tatheti kha bhadrakaṃ tu hradaṃ tatheti ga , ṅa ca gaṅgodbhedamavantikamiti ja vaṭeśaṃ vāmanntīrthaṃ kālikāsaṅgamuttamaṃ
ตีรถะอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ชื่อ “ราชคฤห์” เป็นที่ก่อบุญ; และ “ศาลคราม” เป็นผู้ขจัดบาป ในบางสำนวนอ่านว่า “ญฺชฺญ” และอีกสำนวนอ่านว่า “ภีมตีรถะ” บางแห่งกล่าวว่า “จากวามนะย่อมไปสวรรค์” และในหลายสำนวนกล่าวว่า “ย่อมบรรลุพรหมโลก” ที่นั่นบางสำนวนมี “กรรณะหรทะ” และบางสำนวนเป็น “ภัทรกหรทะ” อีกสำนวนหนึ่งเพิ่ม “คังคोदภेदะ” และ “อวันติกา” ต่อจากนั้นยังกล่าวถึง “วเฏศะ”, “วามนตีรถะ” และสังฆมอันยอดเยี่ยมชื่อ “กาลิกาสังคม”
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Text-critical and practical pilgrimage use: recognizing variant readings (pāṭhabheda) while preserving the functional tīrtha-list for travel, vow-making, and merit accounting.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Tīrtha-list with pāṭhabheda: Rājagṛha, Śālagrāma, Bhīma-tīrtha, Karṇa/Bhadraka-hrada, Avantikā, Vaṭeśa, Vāmana-tīrtha, Kālikā-saṅgama","lookup_keywords":["Rājagṛha tīrtha","Śālagrāma","pāṭhabheda","Avantikā","Kālikā-saṅgama"],"quick_summary":"This verse preserves a tīrtha catalogue while explicitly noting recension variants, showing how the tradition maintained sacred-geography lists despite manuscript differences; it still functions as a usable itinerary and smaraṇa-text."}
Concept: Authority through transmission: sacred knowledge is preserved via recensions; practical dharma remains accessible even with textual variants.
Application: When using a tīrtha-list for vrata/yātrā, accept regional naming differences; focus on the intended rite (snāna, dāna, smaraṇa) rather than disputing labels.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript-scribe scene juxtaposed with a pilgrimage map: a pandit comparing palm-leaf manuscripts noting variant readings, while a stylized route links Rājagṛha, Śālagrāma, Avantikā, and smaller tīrthas like Vaṭeśa and Kālikā-saṅgama.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholar-scribes with palm-leaf manuscripts and stylus, beside a symbolic sacred map with river confluences and banyan (vaṭa) shrine, labels in decorative panels, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central seated scholar with manuscript, gold-leaf highlighting key tīrtha names, surrounding medallions for Rājagṛha, Śālagrāma stone, Avantikā temple silhouette, and a confluence scene for Kālikā-saṅgama.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic composition: left side shows pāṭhabheda notes (multiple name labels), right side shows corresponding tīrtha icons (stone, lake, confluence, banyan shrine), fine linework and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar comparing manuscripts with marginal notes, behind him a detailed itinerary scroll with miniature landscapes for Rajgir hills, Gandaki river with Śālagrāma stones, Ujjain temple, and a confluence scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse contains many पाठचिह्न/variant markers (ख, ग, घ, ङ, छ, ज) and editorial notes; treated as indeclinable textual markers. वामाद्दिवम् = वामात् + दिवम् (त् + द् → द्द्). गङ्गोद्भेदम् = गङ्गा + उद्भेदम् (आ + उ → ओ). वामन्न्तीर्थम् normalized to वामनतीर्थम् (likely scribal doubling).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 109.16–109.19 (preceding tīrtha lists); continuation of tīrtha-mahātmya material beyond 109.20
FAQs
It transmits tīrtha-vidyā: a catalog of pilgrimage-sites and the stated fruit (phala) of visiting—such as sin-destruction and attainment of heavenly realms (including Brahmaloka), along with variant readings preserved across recensions.
By functioning as a gazetteer of sacred Indian geography—naming regions, lakes, confluences, and shrine-titles—while also preserving textual variant traditions, it shows the Agni Purana’s compendious method of recording ritual practice, place-lore, and transmission history.
The verse frames these places as merit-generating (puṇya) and sin-removing (aghāntaka), with the promised karmic fruits of elevated post-mortem destinations (svarga/diva and Brahmaloka) through pilgrimage and sacred contact.