Shloka 14

The Greatness of Kāśī (Avimukta): Pilgrimage Calendar, Yātrā-Dharma, and the Network of Śiva-Liṅgas

Devanagari script

स्नानं कृत्वा तु गंतव्यं गोप्रेक्षे तु वरानने । स्वर्द्वारि कालिकादेवी अर्चितव्या प्रयत्नतः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

snānaṃ kṛtvā tu gaṃtavyaṃ goprekṣe tu varānane | svardvāri kālikādevī arcitavyā prayatnataḥ || 14 ||

Translation

Nach dem Bad, o Schönangesichtige, soll man nach Goprekṣā gehen. Am Svargadvāra ist die Göttin Kālikā mit ernsthaftem Eifer zu verehren.

Word by Word

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; कृत्वा-योगे कर्मवत्

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; अव्ययीभाव/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): having done

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• गन्तव्यम्: one should go
• गन्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive: to be gone); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-भाव (it is necessary to go)

• गो-प्रेक्षे: at Goprekṣa
• गो-प्रेक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गवां प्रेक्षः/प्रेक्षणस्थानम् = place of seeing cows; toponym)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• वर-आनने: O beautiful-faced one
• वर-आनने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वरम् आननं यस्य/यस्याः)

• स्वः-द्वारि: at Svardvāra
• स्वः-द्वारि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वः (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययार्थ) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गस्य द्वारि = at the gate of heaven; place-name/holy spot)

• कालिका-देवी: the goddess Kālikā
• कालिका-देवी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिका (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (कालिका एव देवी)

• अर्चितव्या: should be worshipped
• अर्चितव्या: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive: to be worshipped); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-भाव

• प्रयत्नतः: diligently
• प्रयत्नतः: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय; अव्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त अव्यय (adverbial): with effort/diligently

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue instruction to a questioner, traditionally aligned with Sanatkumara dialogue flow in the Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kalikadevi
• Gopreksa
• Svargadvara

FAQs

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

It frames pilgrimage as a disciplined sādhanā: first purification through snāna, then purposeful movement to a tirtha, culminating in devoted arcana of the presiding Devī—showing that inner and outer purity together make the visit spiritually fruitful.

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

Bhakti is expressed as attentive worship (arcana) done prayatnataḥ—deliberately and carefully—after preparing oneself through ritual purity, emphasizing sincere devotion rather than casual visitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual procedure (tirtha-vidhi): the correct sequence of actions—snāna first, then going to the sacred spot, then performing Devī-arcana—reflecting practical ritual discipline rather than grammar or astrology.