Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

नदी वारायणसी चेयं पुण्या पापप्रणाशिनी । क्षेत्रमेतदलंकृत्य जाह्नव्या सह संगता ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

nadī vārāyaṇasī ceyaṃ puṇyā pāpapraṇāśinī | kṣetrametadalaṃkṛtya jāhnavyā saha saṃgatā || 62 ||

Translation

Dieser Fluss, Vārāyaṇasī, ist heilig und vernichtet Sünden. Nachdem er dieses heilige Gebiet geschmückt hat, hat er sich mit der Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) vereint.

Word by Word

• nadī: river
• nadī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• vārāyaṇasī: Vārāyaṇasī (name of the river/place)
• vārāyaṇasī: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārāyaṇasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), स्थान-नाम (proper noun)

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

• iyam: this
• iyam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• puṇyā: holy, meritorious
• puṇyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• pāpa-praṇāśinī: destroyer of sins
• pāpa-praṇāśinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇāśinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: पापस्य प्रणाशिनी = destroyer of sin); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• kṣetram: the sacred field/region
• kṣetram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• alaṃkṛtya: having adorned/embellished
• alaṃkṛtya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + alam (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive); उपपद-सम्बन्ध: अलं + कृ (to adorn)

• jāhnavyā: with Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• jāhnavyā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāhnavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (preposition-like indeclinable: with)

• saṃgatā: has come together, is united
• saṃgatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु) + sam- (उपसर्ग) + ktá (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; भाव/कर्तरि-प्रयोग (having come together/being united)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the Sanatkumara brothers in the Tirtha-Mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Varanasi (Kashi)
• Varayanasi River
• Jahnavi (Ganga)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Vārāyaṇasī river as a pāpa-pranāśinī (sin-destroying) tīrtha and highlights the special sanctity created by her meeting with Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) in the Kashi region.

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

By praising a tīrtha’s purifying power, the verse supports devotional practice through sacred pilgrimage—approaching holy places connected with Gaṅgā and Kashi as an aid to inner purification that strengthens bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/Smārta practice) is implied: tīrtha-snāna (holy bathing) and pilgrimage discipline at a confluence are treated as purificatory acts within dharma-oriented practice.