Shloka 21

Pulastya’s Tīrtha Enumeration: Sarasvatī, Naimiṣa, Gayā, and Associated Phalaśruti

Chapter 82

Devanagari script

दशकोटिसहस््राणि तीर्थानां वै महामते । सांनिध्य॑ पुष्करे येषां त्रिसंध्यं कुरुनन्दन

Transliteration

daśa-koṭi-sahasrāṇi tīrthānāṃ vai mahā-mate | sānnidhyaṃ puṣkare yeṣāṃ tri-saṃdhyaṃ kuru-nandana ||

Translation

O marunong, may sampu-sampung milyong tīrtha. Ngunit sa Puṣkara—o ligaya ng mga Kuru—nagtitipon ang nakapagpapabanal na presensya ng mga iyon; ang sinumang magsagawa ng mga ritwal sa tatlong sandhyā (umaga, tanghali, dapithapon) doon ay magkakamit ng pinagsama-samang kabutihan ng napakaraming banal na pook.

Word by Word

दशकोटिसहस्राणिten-crore-thousands (i.e., countless tens of millions)

तीर्थानाम्of pilgrimage-places

वैindeed

महामतेO great-minded one

सान्निध्यम्presence, proximity

पुष्करेin Pushkara

येषाम्of which

त्रिसन्ध्यम्at the three junctions (three times a day)

कुरुनन्दनO delight of the Kurus

Speaker

घुलस्त्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Puṣkara

tīrtha (pilgrimage sites)

tri-saṃdhyā (three daily sandhyā times)

Kuru-nandana (address to a Kuru prince)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that disciplined daily observance—especially worship at the three sandhyā times—can concentrate spiritual benefit, and that certain tīrthas like Puṣkara are revered as gathering the sanctity of many pilgrimage places.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker praises the greatness of Puṣkara within a tīrtha-mahātmya context, telling a Kuru prince that although countless tīrthas exist, Puṣkara uniquely embodies their sacred presence, particularly for one who performs tri-sandhyā rites there.