Shloka 46
The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places
Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala
सोमो यत्रार्चयन्नीशं रुद्रेण शिरसा धृतः । विश्वामित्रस्य भगिनी गंगया यत्र संगता ॥ ४६ ॥
somo yatrārcayannīśaṃ rudreṇa śirasā dhṛtaḥ | viśvāmitrasya bhaginī gaṃgayā yatra saṃgatā || 46 ||
Ito ang pook kung saan sinamba ni Soma ang Panginoon (Īśa); kung saan siya’y dinala sa ulo ni Rudra; at kung saan ang kapatid na babae ni Viśvāmitra ay nakipagtagpo at nagsanib sa Ilog Gaṅgā.
Suta (narrating the Tirtha-Mahatmya of Uttara-Bhaga in the Purana style)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It identifies a tirtha by linking it to divine events—Soma’s worship of Īśa, Rudra bearing Soma, and a sacred union with Gaṅgā—marking the place as exceptionally potent for pilgrimage, bathing, and worship.
Bhakti is shown through Soma’s act of arcana (worship) of Īśa: the verse presents devotion and reverence to the deity at a sanctified place as a direct means to spiritual merit and purification.
The verse primarily functions as tirtha-mahātmya (sacred geography) rather than a Vedanga lesson; practically, it supports dharma-śāstric ritual practice—tirtha-yātrā, snāna (holy bathing), and īśa-pūjā—performed with proper mantra and procedure.