Narmadā-tīrtha-māhātmya — Bhṛgu-tīrtha to Sāgara-saṅgama
Pilgrimage Circuit, Gifts, Fasting, and Imperishable Merit
ततो गच्छेत राजेन्द्र भारभूतिमनुत्तमम् / उपोषितोर्ऽचयेदीशं रुद्रलोके महीयते / अस्मिंस्तीर्थे मृतो राजन् गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात्
tato gaccheta rājendra bhārabhūtimanuttamam / upoṣitor'cayedīśaṃ rudraloke mahīyate / asmiṃstīrthe mṛto rājan gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt
Rồi, ô bậc chúa tể các vua, hãy đến tīrtha vô song mang tên Bhārabhūti. Sau khi trai giới, hãy thờ phụng Īśa—Đấng Śiva; người ấy được tôn vinh nơi cõi Rudra. Và tâu Đại vương, ai mệnh chung tại bến thánh này sẽ đạt địa vị Gaṇapati, tức quyền chủ tể giữa các gaṇa của Śiva.
Sūta (narrating Purāṇic teaching to the sages, presenting tīrtha-māhātmya as received tradition)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Indirectly: it emphasizes devotion (arcana) to Īśa through disciplined observance (fasting), implying that spiritual ascent is achieved by inner purification and God-centered orientation rather than mere ritualism.
The verse highlights upavāsa (fasting) as tapas/discipline and arcana (focused worship) as a bhakti-sādhana; together they function as preparatory practices that steady the mind and align the practitioner with Śiva’s grace.
While explicitly Shaiva (Īśa, Rudra-loka), it fits the Kurma Purana’s synthetic frame where Vishnu (as Kurma) transmits teachings that validate Śiva-worship and its fruits, reflecting a non-sectarian Purāṇic harmony.