Shloka 26
The Glory of Śrāddha at Sacred Fords and the Determination of the Kutapa Time
गोमती वरुणा तद्वत्तीर्थं हौताशनं परम् । भैरवं भृगुतुंगं च गौरीतीर्थमनुत्तमम्
gomatī varuṇā tadvattīrthaṃ hautāśanaṃ param | bhairavaṃ bhṛgutuṃgaṃ ca gaurītīrthamanuttamam
有戈摩提河、伐楼那河，以及同样的圣渡口；至圣的豪塔沙那圣地；又有怖罗婆（Bhairava）、婆利古通伽（Bhṛgutunga），以及无与伦比的高丽圣渡（Gaurī-tīrtha）。
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses).
Concept: Sacred landscapes integrate multiple divine functions—purification (rivers), transformation (Agni), protection (Bhairava), and grace (Gaurī)—guiding pilgrims toward inner purification and disciplined conduct.
Application: Balance spiritual life: cleanse (daily bath/ethical restraint), transform (self-discipline like ‘Agni’), protect (avoid harmful company), and soften (compassion like ‘Gaurī’).
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A broad riverbank where the Gomatī and Varuṇā are shown as twin sacred streams, with a blazing yet controlled Agni altar at Hautāśana-tīrtha. Nearby stands a protective Bhairava shrine with garlands and a trident, while a serene Gaurī-tīrtha pond reflects a small moonlike glow, and a distant hillock suggests Bhṛgutunga’s tapas peak.","primary_figures":["Agni (altar presence)","Bhairava (shrine icon)","Gaurī (shrine icon)","pilgrims","a Bhṛgu-lineage sage (optional)"],"setting":"Riverside ghāṭ with yajña-kuṇḍa, small shrines, a sacred pond, and a distant hill/rock outcrop.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["flame orange","midnight blue","stone gray","marigold yellow","river silver"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: composite tīrtha tableau—twin rivers, central Agni altar with gold leaf flames, Bhairava shrine with ornate arch and gem-like highlights, Gaurī pond with lotus motifs, pilgrims offering lamps; rich reds/greens, heavy gold embellishment and traditional iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: panoramic riverscape with small shrines spaced along the bank, delicate Agni flames, Bhairava icon under a canopy, tranquil Gaurī pond with lotuses, distant hill for Bhṛgutunga, cool blues and soft earth tones, refined faces and lyrical spacing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined shrines and stylized rivers, Agni rendered as rhythmic flame shapes, Bhairava and Gaurī icons frontal and symmetrical, strong red-yellow-green palette with black contours and temple-wall composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border with lotus and flame motifs, central pond with lotuses, side panels showing Bhairava shrine and Agni altar, peacocks and cows as decorative elements, deep blues with gold highlights and intricate floral filigree."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["crackling sacred fire","temple bells","river flow","conch shell","low drum (mridangam) pulse"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तद्वत्तीर्थम् = तद्वत् + तीर्थम् (त् + त = त्त). गौरीतीर्थम् = गौरी + तीर्थम् (ई + त = ईत्).
FAQs
It functions as a compact catalogue of pilgrimage locations—rivers (Gomatī, Varuṇā) and named sacred sites (Hautāśana, Bhairava, Bhṛgutunga, Gaurī-tīrtha)—showing how the Purāṇa maps holiness onto specific landscapes.
By naming revered tīrthas associated with divine figures (Bhairava/Śiva and Gaurī/Śakti), it encourages devotional engagement through pilgrimage, remembrance, and reverence for places linked to the divine.
Even without explicit moral instruction in the line itself, the implied teaching is to cultivate śraddhā (reverent faith) and humility by honoring sacred places and traditions, using pilgrimage as a discipline of remembrance and self-purification.