Shloka 3

The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power

Devanagari script

सा ब्रह्मपुत्री सर्वज्ञा सर्वलोकहिते रता । पुरोधसंच संप्राप्ता शरणं प्रभुमात्मनः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

sā brahmaputrī sarvajñā sarvalokahite ratā | purodhasaṃca saṃprāptā śaraṇaṃ prabhumātmanaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Sie — Brahmās Tochter, allwissend und dem Wohl aller Welten zugetan — trat auch zum Hauspriester und nahm Zuflucht bei ihrem eigenen Herrn und Meister.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• brahma: Brahmā/Brahman
• brahma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, in compound (पूर्वपद) with putrī

• putrī: daughter
• putrī: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘daughter of Brahmā’

• sarvajñā: omniscient
• sarvajñā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; sarva+jña; qualifying sā

• sarva: all
• sarva: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: In compound (पूर्वपद) with loka-hita

• loka: world; people
• loka: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, in compound with hita

• hite: in the welfare (of all)
• hite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; sarva-loka-hita = ‘welfare of all worlds/people’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ratā: devoted; engaged
• ratā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘devoted/engaged’

• purodhasam: the family priest; priest
• purodhasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purodhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of saṃprāptā (approached)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• saṃprāptā: having approached; having reached
• saṃprāptā: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√prāp (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त as adjectival PPP in sense of ‘having reached’), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with sā

• śaraṇam: refuge; shelter
• śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object/complement ‘as refuge’

• prabhum: the Lord; master
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म/appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; apposition to śaraṇam (refuge as ‘the Lord’)

• ātmanaḥ: of herself; her own
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular; reflexive ‘of herself/one’s own’ qualifying prabhum

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Prabhu (Lord)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It highlights śaraṇāgati—seeking refuge in the Lord—as the stabilizing spiritual response even for an exalted, all-knowing figure devoted to universal welfare.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti here is shown as humble surrender: despite her knowledge and status as Brahmā’s daughter, she turns to the Lord as the ultimate protector and support, modeling devotional dependence on the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implies the role of the purohita (ritual/household guide), reflecting applied Dharma and kalpa-style practice—seeking proper counsel for rites and right conduct alongside inner surrender.