Shloka 91

Account of Various Sacred Tīrthas

Pilgrimage Merits and Prayāga Supremacy

Devanagari script

तावत्स पुरुषो राजन्स्वर्गलोके महीयते । यथा पुण्यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

Transliteration

tāvatsa puruṣo rājansvargaloke mahīyate | yathā puṇyāni tīrthāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

Translation

اے راجن! وہ شخص سوَرگ لوک میں اتنی ہی مدت تک معزز رہتا ہے، جتنی مدت تک پُنّیہ تیرتھ اور مقدس آیتن قائم و معروف رہتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• तावत्: so long
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; temporal extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (so long/that long)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुरुषः: the man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; apposition to 'सः'

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative संबोधन

• स्वर्गलोके: in the heavenly world
• स्वर्गलोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्गलोक (प्रातिपदिक: स्वर्ग + लोक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: in heaven-world)

• महीयते: is honored
• महीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु) / महि (धातु; to honor) → महीयते
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; passive/ātmanepada sense: is honored/glorified

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकार-वाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• पुण्यानि: holy/meritorious
• पुण्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण of 'तीर्थानि/आयतनानि'

• तीर्थानि: pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (कर्ता; in comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• पुण्यानि: holy
• पुण्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण of 'आयतनानि'

• आयतनानि: abodes/shrines
• आयतनानि: Karta (कर्ता; in comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator addressing a king (rājan) within the Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogue context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तावत्स = तावत् + सः; राजन्स्वर्गलोके = राजन् + स्वर्गलोके; पुण्यान्यायतनानि = पुण्यानि + आयतनानि.

FAQs

What does this verse say about heavenly honor (svarga-loka) and merit?

It states that a person’s honor in heaven endures in proportion to the enduring sanctity and remembrance of holy tīrthas and sacred abodes connected with merit.

What is the difference between tīrtha and āyatana in this verse?

Tīrtha refers to sacred pilgrimage sites (often linked to bathing, rivers, or crossings), while āyatana refers to holy abodes or shrines—places where divinity is installed or worship is established.

What ethical lesson is implied for devotees and patrons of sacred places?

The verse implies that supporting, preserving, and honoring holy places and institutions sustains spiritual merit and lasting renown, encouraging stewardship of sacred geography and worship sites.