Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण यज्ञदानेन वा पुनः / न तां गतिमवाप्नोति शुक्लतीर्थे तु यां लभेत्

Transliteration

tapasā brahmacaryeṇa yajñadānena vā punaḥ / na tāṃ gatimavāpnoti śuklatīrthe tu yāṃ labhet

Translation

无论以苦行（tapas）、梵行清净（brahmacarya），或以祭祀与布施，也难以获得那般殊胜的福进之境；唯在名为“白圣渡”（Śukla-tīrtha）的圣地，方能得之。

Word by Word

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग — 'by austerity'

• brahmacaryeṇa: by celibacy
• brahmacaryeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग — 'by celibacy/continence'

• yajña-dānena: by sacrifice and donation
• yajña-dānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग — द्वन्द्वः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) 'by sacrifice-and-gift (combined)'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• punaḥ: again/indeed
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — repetition/emphasis

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग — demonstrative pronoun

• gatim: goal/state
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग — 'state/goal'

• avāpnoti: attains
• avāpnoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 'attains'

• śukla-tīrthe: at Śukla-tīrtha
• śukla-tīrthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग — कर्मधारयः 'at Śukla-tīrtha'

• tu: however/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — contrast/emphasis

• yām: which
• yām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग — relative pronoun; correlates with tām

• labhet: may obtain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 'would obtain/may obtain'

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the tīrtha-māhātmya within the Kurma Purana discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śukla-tīrtha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes that certain sacred contexts (tīrthas) can accelerate purification and spiritual “gati” beyond what is achieved by isolated disciplines, implying that inner realization is supported by sanctified places and dharmic conditions that refine the mind toward the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights preparatory yogic disciplines—tapas (austerity), brahmacarya (sense-restraint/celibate conduct), and yajña-dāna (sacrificial worship and generosity)—and teaches that pilgrimage to Śukla-tīrtha is presented as yielding an exceptional spiritual outcome when aligned with such dharma.

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

Not explicitly; however, as a Kurma Purana teaching, it fits the text’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where tīrthas and dharmic observances are seen as universally sanctifying, leading seekers toward the same highest auspicious goal regardless of sectarian framing.