Shloka 53

Narmadā–Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Sequence of Sacred Fords and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले तीर्थं परमशोभनम् / कामतीर्थमिति ख्यातं यत्र कामोर्ऽचयद् भवम्

Transliteration

narmadādakṣiṇe kūle tīrthaṃ paramaśobhanam / kāmatīrthamiti khyātaṃ yatra kāmor'cayad bhavam

Translation

نرمدا کے جنوبی کنارے پر ایک نہایت دلکش تیرتھ ہے، جو “کام تیرتھ” کے نام سے معروف ہے؛ جہاں کام دیو نے بھو (شیو) کی پوجا کی تھی۔

Word by Word

• नर्मदायाḥ: of the Narmadā
• नर्मदायाḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: southern
• दक्षिणे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘कूले’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कूले: on the bank
• कूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: a sacred place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परमशोभनम्: supremely beautiful
• परमशोभनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमं शोभनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तीर्थम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कामतीर्थम्: Kāma-tīrtha
• कामतीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कामस्य तीर्थम्/काम-सम्बन्धि तीर्थम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus; called
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निरूपणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातम्: is renowned
• ख्यातम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तीर्थम्’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative locative adverb: where)

• कामः: Kāma (the god of love)
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्चयत्: worshipped
• अर्चयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवम्: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Kurma Purana’s tīrtha-description in dialogue with the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Narmada
• Kama
• Bhava (Shiva)
• Kama-tirtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly: by highlighting worship of Bhava (Śiva) at a tīrtha, the verse points to the Purāṇic view that the Supreme is approached through devotion and sanctified places—external pilgrimage supporting inner recollection of the indwelling Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and īśvara-arcana (worship of the Lord) as preparatory disciplines—acts that purify intention (saṅkalpa) and senses, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava soteriology where devotion supports yogic steadiness.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By presenting Śiva (Bhava) as the object of reverence within the Kurma Purana’s sacred geography, it reflects the text’s integrative stance: pilgrimage and worship honor Śiva without contradicting a Vishnu-centered Purāṇa framework, reinforcing a non-sectarian, synthesized dharma.