Shloka 16

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Catalog of Sacred Places and the Supreme Inner Tīrtha

Devanagari script

कामरूपं महातीर्थं कामाख्या (क्षा) यत्र तिष्ठति / पुण्ड्रवर्धनकं तीर्थं कार्तिकेयश्च यत्र च

Transliteration

kāmarūpaṃ mahātīrthaṃ kāmākhyā (kṣā) yatra tiṣṭhati / puṇḍravardhanakaṃ tīrthaṃ kārtikeyaśca yatra ca

Translation

Ang Kāmarūpa ay isang dakilang tīrtha, kung saan nananahan ang Diyosa Kāmākhyā. Ang Puṇḍravardhana rin ay banal na tīrtha, kung saan naninirahan din si Kārtikeya.

Word by Word

• कामरूपम्: Kāmarūpa (place-name)
• कामरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—कामस्य रूपम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महातीर्थम्: a great sacred ford (great tīrtha)
• महातीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—महच्च तत् तीर्थम् (कर्मधारय)

• कामाख्या: Kāmākhyā (goddess/temple-name)
• कामाख्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामाख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• तिष्ठति: stands/abides
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुण्ड्रवर्धनकम्: Puṇḍravardhanaka (place-name)
• पुण्ड्रवर्धनकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्ड्रवर्धनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—पुण्ड्रस्य वर्धनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), तद्धितान्त-रूप (क)

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford; pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• कार्तिकेयः: Kārtikeya
• कार्तिकेयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction: 'and')

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• च: also/and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction: 'and')

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (narrating to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-sevā and deity-darśana as a means to accrue puṇya and inner purification.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) accessed through sacred space; external pilgrimage supporting antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi.

Application: Undertake pilgrimage with restraint and devotion; perform japa/namaskāra and charity at these kṣetras, treating the place as a living presence of the deity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha-region and tīrtha (sacred ford/kshetra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.81 (tīrtha-kathana sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Kāmarūpa
• Kāmākhyā
• Puṇḍravardhana
• Kārtikeya

FAQs

What is the importance of Kāmarūpa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks Kāmarūpa as a mahātīrtha specifically associated with the Goddess Kāmākhyā, emphasizing its sanctity as a pilgrimage destination.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting tīrthas connected with powerful deities, it supports the Garuda Purana theme that dharma, devotion, and sacred acts (like tīrtha-yātrā) generate puṇya that benefits one’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate devotion and ethical living, and if undertaking pilgrimage, do it with reverence and self-discipline—treating sacred sites as places for inner purification rather than mere travel.