Shloka 1
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
वसुरुवाच । श्रृणु मोहिनी वक्ष्यामि तीर्थानां लक्षणं पृथक् । येन विज्ञातमात्रेण पापिनां गतिरुत्तमा ॥ २ ॥
vasuruvāca | śrṛṇu mohinī vakṣyāmi tīrthānāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ pṛthak | yena vijñātamātreṇa pāpināṃ gatiruttamā || 2 ||
婆苏说道：“听着，摩希尼。我将逐一宣说诸圣地（tīrtha）的殊胜特征；仅凭了知此义，纵是罪人亦能趋至至上归宿。”
Vasu
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It introduces the doctrine that tīrthas have identifiable spiritual “marks,” and that right understanding of their nature leads to pāpa-kṣaya (dissolution of sin) and an uttamā gati (supreme end).
By presenting tīrtha-knowledge as transformative, it supports the Bhakti-oriented Purāṇic view that sincere orientation to the sacred (through yātrā, remembrance, and reverence) elevates even the fallen toward the highest goal.
The verse points to lakṣaṇa (defining marks/classification), a practical analytic method used across śāstra; in tīrtha-yātrā contexts this guides correct ritual discernment (dharma-vicāra) about what qualifies as a true tīrtha.