Shloka 16

Kuru's Consecration — Kuru’s Consecration and the Sanctification of Samantapañcaka (Kurukshetra)

Devanagari script

समन्तपञ्चकं नाम धर्मस्थानमनुत्तमम् आकमन्ताद् योजनानि पञ्च च सर्वतः

Transliteration

samantapañcakaṃ nāma dharmasthānamanuttamam ākamantād yojanāni pañca ca sarvataḥ

Translation

‘সমন্তপঞ্চক’ নামে এক অনুত্তম ধৰ্মস্থান আছে; আকমন্তৰ পৰা ই সকলো দিশে পাঁচ যোজনলৈ বিস্তৃত।

Word by Word

• samanta-pañcakam: Samantapañcaka (name of a place)
• samanta-pañcakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samanta (प्रातिपदिक) + pañcaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (samantaṃ pañcakaṃ = ‘five all around’; proper name)

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नामनिर्देशार्थक (particle: ‘named/called’)

• dharma-sthānam: a place of righteousness
• dharma-sthānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dharmasya sthānam = place of dharma)

• anuttamam: unsurpassed, excellent
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying dharmasthānam)

• ā: up to
• ā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय, मर्यादार्थक/आवधिपर्यन्त (up to, as far as)

• kamantāt: from the edge/boundary (as in text)
• kamantāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kamantā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘from ... side’; पाठे ‘ākamantād’ इति, सम्भाव्यं ‘ā + kamantāt’

• yojanāni: yojanas (distance units)
• yojanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• pañca: five
• pañca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या (indeclinable numeral), here qualifying yojanāni

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb: on all sides)

Speakers

• Narrator layer not explicit in the provided excerpt (likely within Pulastya–Nārada frame typical of the Purāṇa)

Key Themes

• Sacred Geography
• Tirtha Mahatmya
• Dharma
• Pilgrimage (kṣetra-pramāṇa)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is anchored in sacred space as well as conduct: the text signals that certain regions are regarded as concentrated fields of merit (puṇya-kṣetra), where righteous acts, vows, and rites are especially efficacious.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily within 'Vamśānucarita/Ākhyāna' framing that introduces a kṣetra-māhātmya; more specifically it functions as tīrtha-prasaṃśā (praise of a holy place) rather than sarga/pratisarga. It supports dharmaśāstric orientation typical of Purāṇic kṣetra sections.

What is the symbolic significance?

By defining Samantapañcaka’s extent, the Purāṇa maps dharma onto geography: boundaries and measures sacralize the landscape, turning the region into a ritual mandala where order (dharma) is spatially embodied.