Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

पंचगौरीः समुद्दिश्य रसान् गंधान्द्विजेऽर्पयेत् । उत्तमं श्रेय आप्रोति सौभाग्येन समन्वितः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcagaurīḥ samuddiśya rasān gaṃdhāndvije'rpayet | uttamaṃ śreya āproti saubhāgyena samanvitaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

Nachdem man die Fünf Gaurīs angerufen hat, soll man einem Brāhmaṇa schmackhafte Speisen und duftende Substanzen darbringen; von Glück begünstigt, erlangt man das höchste Heil.

Word by Word

• paṃca-gaurīḥ: the five Gaurīs
• paṃca-gaurīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (अव्यय/संख्या) + gaurī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) numeral compound: 'five Gaurīs'; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samuddiśya: having invoked/indicated
• samuddiśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-diś (सम्+उद्+दिश् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta (कृदन्त), Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): -ya form; 'having indicated/dedicated/invoked'

• rasān: tastes/juices (offerings)
• rasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• gandhān: fragrances/perfumes
• gandhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dvije: to a Brahmin
• dvije: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• arpayet: should offer
• arpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arp (अर्प् धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• uttamam: supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective (विशेषण) qualifying śreyaḥ; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śreyaḥ: welfare/benefit
• śreyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āproti: attains
• āproti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Laṭ (लट्/present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• saubhāgyena: through good fortune
• saubhāgyena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saubhāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samanvitaḥ: endowed (with it)
• samanvitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-anv-ita (सम्+अन्वि+इ धातु > इत कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally: 'endowed/possessed'

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gauri (as Pañca-Gaurī)

FAQs

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

It links deity-invocation (Pañca-Gaurī) with dana to a dvija, teaching that sincere ritual dedication plus charitable offering yields śreyas—higher spiritual welfare—along with auspicious fortune.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through reverent invocation and offering: devotion is not only inner faith but also respectful service—dedicating the act to the deity and honoring sacred recipients through offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/Smārta practice) is implied: proper saṅkalpa/invocation (samuddiśya) and prescribed giving (arpayet) of specific upacāras—food (rasa) and fragrance (gandha)—as part of a vrata or pūjā sequence.