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
随后,王中之王啊,应前往无上圣地“婆罗布提”(Bhārabhūti)。先行斋戒,再礼拜伊沙(Īśa)——主宰湿婆;其人在鲁陀罗之界受尊崇。并且,大王啊,若有人于此圣渡处命终,便得“伽那主”(Gaṇapati)之位,即在湿婆诸伽那众中具主宰之权。
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.