Shloka 28

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Catalog of Sacred Places and the Supreme Inner Tīrtha

Devanagari script

सप्तगोदावरं तीर्थं तीर्थं कोणगिरिः परम् / महालक्ष्मीर्यत्र देवी प्रणीता परमा नदी

Transliteration

saptagodāvaraṃ tīrthaṃ tīrthaṃ koṇagiriḥ param / mahālakṣmīryatra devī praṇītā paramā nadī

Translation

名为“七哥达瓦拉”（Saptagodāvara）的圣地渡口乃朝圣之处；科那吉里（Koṇagiri）则为至上 tīrtha。彼处供奉安置大吉祥天女摩诃拉克什米（Mahālakṣmī），其河亦被尊为最崇高者。

Word by Word

• सप्तगोदावरम्: Saptagodāvara (name; ‘seven Godāvaras’)
• सप्तगोदावरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + गोदावर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (सप्त गोदावराः यस्मिन्/यत्) नामरूपेण

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha; sacred place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha; sacred place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• कोणगिरिः: Koṇagiri (a mountain/place)
• कोणगिरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोणगिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; पर्वत-नाम

• परम्: supreme; highest
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• महालक्ष्मीः: Mahālakṣmī
• महालक्ष्मीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती लक्ष्मी)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb of place)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• प्रणीता: led; brought; established
• प्रणीता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय (led/brought/established)

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नदी: river
• नदी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain tīrthas are intensified by devī-sannidhya; Mahālakṣmī’s presence sanctifies the river and place as supremely auspicious.

Vedantic Theme: Śakti as the manifest auspicious power of the Lord; sacred geography as a support for devotion and sattva.

Application: Pilgrimage with Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa remembrance; practice generosity and purity at such sites, aligning prosperity with dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha and mountain/holy hill

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.81 (regional tīrtha enumeration; devī/river sanctity motifs)

Characters & Entities

• Mahālakṣmī
• Godāvarī (Saptagodāvara)
• Koṇagiri

FAQs

What is the importance of Saptagodāvara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies Saptagodāvara as a recognized tīrtha, implying it is a sanctified place for pilgrimage where river-related worship and purification practices are traditionally considered highly meritorious.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting tīrthas and divine presence (Mahālakṣmī), it points to dharmic supports—pilgrimage, devotion, and sacred geography—that are treated in the Purana as aids for spiritual uplift and auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred places and rivers with reverence: practice ethical living, add devotional worship (especially of Lakṣmī/Nārāyaṇa), and if doing pilgrimage, do it with purity of conduct rather than as mere tourism.