Padma Purana — Svarga Khanda, Shloka 27

Description of the Fruits of Pilgrimage

Puṣkara Tīrtha Māhātmya

Devanagari script

तत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्पितृदेवार्चने रतः । अश्वमेधाद्दशगुणं प्रवदंति मनीषिणः

Transliteration

tatrābhiṣekaṃ yaḥ kuryātpitṛdevārcane rataḥ | aśvamedhāddaśaguṇaṃ pravadaṃti manīṣiṇaḥ

Translation

智者宣说：凡专心礼敬祖灵（Pitṛ）与诸天（Deva）者，若在彼处行圣灌顶供献（abhiṣeka），其功德为马祭（Aśvamedha）之十倍。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• अभिषेकम्: an anointing/ritual bathing
• अभिषेकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• पितृदेवार्चने: in the worship of ancestors and gods
• पितृदेवार्चने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + देव + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक); पितृदेव-अर्चन (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): 'पितॄणां देवानां च अर्चनम्' → 'पितृदेवार्चनम्'

• रतः: devoted/engaged
• रतः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; adjectival to यः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participial adjective) अर्थे 'आसक्तः/निरतः'

• अश्वमेधात्: than the Aśvamedha (sacrifice)
• अश्वमेधात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• दशगुणम्: tenfold (in merit)
• दशगुणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; predicate accusative with implied 'फलम्')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + गुण (प्रातिपदिक); दशगुण (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः (numerical): 'दश गुणाः यस्य' → 'दशगुणम्' (tenfold)

• प्रवदन्ति: declare/say
• प्रवदन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• मनीषिणः: the wise (sages)
• मनीषिणः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within the chapter context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्राभिषेकम् = तत्र + अभिषेकम्; कुर्यात्पितृदेवार्चने = कुर्यात् + पितृदेवार्चने; अश्वमेधाद्दशगुणम् = अश्वमेधात् + दशगुणम्; प्रवदंति = प्रवदन्ति (अनुस्वार-लोप/लेखनभेद)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Devas
• Aśvamedha
• Manīṣiṇaḥ (sages)

FAQs

What practice is praised in this verse?

It praises performing abhiṣeka (a ritual ablution/offering) at that sacred place while being devoted to worship of both the ancestors (Pitṛs) and the gods (Devas).

How does the verse compare this act to the Aśvamedha sacrifice?

It states that the merit gained is ten times greater than that obtained from performing an Aśvamedha.

What ethical or spiritual emphasis does the verse convey?

It elevates sincere devotional ritual service—especially honoring both divine beings and one’s ancestors—above even grand, prestigious Vedic rites in terms of spiritual merit.