Shloka 36

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

तीर्थं प्राप्यानुषंगेण स्नानं तीर्थे समाचरन् । स्रानजं फलमाप्नोति तीर्थयात्राफलं न तु ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

tīrthaṃ prāpyānuṣaṃgeṇa snānaṃ tīrthe samācaran | srānajaṃ phalamāpnoti tīrthayātrāphalaṃ na tu || 36 ||

Translation

ผู้ที่ไปถึงสถานที่ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ (ตีรถะ) เพียงโดยบังเอิญแล้วอาบน้ำที่นั่น ย่อมได้เพียงผลแห่งการอาบน้ำเท่านั้น มิใช่บุญเต็มจากการจาริกตีรถะด้วยเจตนาตั้งมั่น.

Word by Word

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• तीर्थम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having reached’

• अनुषङ्गेण: incidentally / as a by-product
• अनुषङ्गेण: करण/हेतु (Karaṇa/Hetu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुषङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रकारे (by way of incidental association)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तीर्थे: at the pilgrimage place
• तीर्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• समाचरन्: performing/practising
• समाचरन्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु) → समाचरन्त् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• स्नानजम्: born of bathing (resulting from bathing)
• स्नानजम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान-ज (प्रातिपदिक; स्नान + ज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्नानात् जातम्)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आप्नोति: obtains
• आप्नोति: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तीर्थयात्राफलम्: the fruit of the pilgrimage-journey
• तीर्थयात्राफलम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ-यात्रा-फल (प्रातिपदिक; तीर्थ + यात्रा + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थयात्रायाः फलम्)

• न: not
• न: निषेधक (Negator/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• तु: however/but
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — विरोध/विशेषार्थे

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It distinguishes partial merit from complete merit: bathing at a tīrtha gives the benefit of snāna, but the full spiritual fruit arises when one undertakes tīrtha-yātrā intentionally and in a disciplined, dharmic manner.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By implying that inner intention matters: devotion is not accidental. Just as pilgrimage requires deliberate purpose, bhakti is strengthened by conscious resolve (sankalpa), reverence, and right conduct rather than mere proximity to holy places.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: the verse points to the role of proper observance and intent in rites—distinguishing a simple tīrtha-snānā from a formally undertaken tīrtha-yātrā with vows, discipline, and prescribed conduct.