Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

रामेश्वरं परं तीर्थं कार्तिकेयं तथोत्तमम् / भृगुतुङ्गं कामतीर्थं तीर्थं चामरकण्टकम्

Transliteration

rāmeśvaraṃ paraṃ tīrthaṃ kārtikeyaṃ tathottamam / bhṛgutuṅgaṃ kāmatīrthaṃ tīrthaṃ cāmarakaṇṭakam

Translation

罗摩伊湿伐罗（Rāmeśvara）为至上圣渡；迦尔蒂凯亚（Kārtikeya）亦最为殊胜。婆利古峰（Bhṛgu-tuṅga）、伽摩圣渡（Kāma-tīrtha）与名为阿摩罗迦难陀迦（Amarakāṇṭaka）的圣地——皆为显赫朝圣处。

Word by Word

• रामेश्वरम्: Rāmeśvara
• रामेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Apposition/Viśeṣya (Identificational)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘रामेश्वरम्’ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन (as a tīrtha)

• कार्तिकेयम्: Kārtikeya (holy place/deity)
• कार्तिकेयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (कार्तिकेयम्)

• भृगुतुङ्गम्: Bhṛgutunga (holy peak/place)
• भृगुतुङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु + तुङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कामतीर्थम्: Kāma-tīrtha
• कामतीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Apposition/Viśeṣya (Identificational)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘कामतीर्थम्’ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• अमरकण्टकम्: Amarakaṇṭaka
• अमरकण्टकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣetra-darśana and tīrtha-snāna as karma-śuddhi (pāpa-kṣaya) and punya accrual, supporting higher aims.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctifying action through sacred intent; purification as preparatory to bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Perform tīrtha-snāna with sankalpa for inner reform; combine with dāna and japa; treat ‘kāma-tīrtha’ boons as subordinate to dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha / deva-kṣetra / parvata-kṣetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Setu/Rāmeśvara praised among tīrthas in multiple enumerations (general internal motif)

Characters & Entities

• Rameshvara
• Kartikeya (Skanda)
• Bhrigu
• Kama
• Amarakantaka

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrthas (pilgrimage sites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights named tīrthas as “supreme/excellent,” indicating that pilgrimage to such places is treated as a dharmic means of accruing puṇya and spiritual purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: by emphasizing holy places, it points to preparatory dharma—merit-making and purification—often presented in the Garuda Purana as supports for a better post-death journey and outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake pilgrimage (or mindful worship/charity connected with these tīrthas) with ethical conduct, treating tīrtha-yātrā as inner purification rather than tourism.