Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तु भोजयेद्विप्राञ्छिवभक्ताञ्छुचिव्रतान् । वासोभिर्द्दक्षिणाभिश्च पुष्कालभिर्यथार्हतः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tatastu bhojayedviprāñchivabhaktāñchucivratān | vāsobhirddakṣiṇābhiśca puṣkālabhiryathārhataḥ || 16 ||

Translation

Dann soll man die Brāhmaṇas speisen—Śiva-Bhaktas, die reine Gelübde wahren—und sie, wie es sich ziemt, mit Gewändern und reichlicher Dakṣiṇā ehren.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण): 'thereafter/then'

• tu: indeed/then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/conjunction (निपात): emphasis/contrast

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु) [causative: भोजयति]
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Causative (णिच्), Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• viprān: Brahmins
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śiva-bhaktān: devotees of Śiva
• śiva-bhaktān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) genitive-relation: 'Śivasya bhaktāḥ'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śuci-vratān: those of pure vows
• śuci-vratān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय): 'śuciḥ vrataṃ yeṣām/śuci-vratāḥ'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vāsobhiḥ: with garments/cloths
• vāsobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dakṣiṇābhiḥ: with gifts/fees (dakṣiṇā)
• dakṣiṇābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

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

• puṣkālabhiḥ: abundant, plentiful
• puṣkālabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective (विशेषण) agreeing with vāsobhiḥ/dakṣiṇābhiḥ; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yathā-arhataḥ: according to due propriety
• yathā-arhataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + arhataḥ (प्रातिपदिक: arhat)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverbial: 'as is proper'; yathā = indeclinable; arhataḥ = Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) Singular used adverbially ('of the deserving/according to worth')

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It teaches that a rite is completed not only by worship but by dharmic hospitality—feeding disciplined, pure-vowed devotees and offering fitting gifts as an act of merit (puṇya) and reverence.

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

Bhakti is expressed through seva: honoring Śiva’s devotees and supporting the learned with food, clothing, and dakṣiṇā, making devotion tangible through compassionate giving.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied—proper sequencing of a rite (after worship, feed recipients) and the rule of yathārhataḥ, i.e., giving in proportion to qualification and customary injunction.