Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

कालेश्वराख्यकुंडस्थैः फाल्गुने मासि शोभने । पिशाचैस्तु कृता यात्रा स्नानपूजादितत्परैः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

kāleśvarākhyakuṃḍasthaiḥ phālgune māsi śobhane | piśācaistu kṛtā yātrā snānapūjāditatparaiḥ || 9 ||

Translation

Im glückverheißenden Monat Phālguna, o Schöne, vollzogen die Piśācas, die am heiligen Becken namens Kāleśvara wohnten, die Pilgerfahrt, eifrig im rituellen Bad und in Verehrungshandlungen und dergleichen.

Word by Word

• कालेश्वर-आख्य-कुण्ड-स्थैः: by those staying at the pond called Kāleśvara
• कालेश्वर-आख्य-कुण्ड-स्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √ख्या धातु) + कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त, √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘कालेश्वराख्ये कुण्डे स्थाः’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष

• फाल्गुने: in Phālguna
• फाल्गुने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन (प्रातिपदिक; मास-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; मास-विशेषणरूपे

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शोभने: O beautiful one
• शोभने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• पिशाचैः: by the Piśācas
• पिशाचैः: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

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

• कृता: was performed
• कृता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘यात्रा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• यात्रा: pilgrimage
• यात्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्नान-पूजा-आदि-तत्परैः: by those devoted to bathing, worship, etc.
• स्नान-पूजा-आदि-तत्परैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘स्नानपूजादिषु तत्पराः’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष; ‘आदि’ = ‘etc.’

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework; Uttara-Bhaga tirtha narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kaleshvara (as a tirtha/kunda name)
• Pishacha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that even beings of a lower or troubled condition (Piśācas) can turn toward dharma through tīrtha-yātrā—specifically by performing snāna (sacred bathing) and pūjā (worship) at a sanctified kunda in an auspicious month.

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

Bhakti is shown in practical form: steady intent (tatparatā) toward worship—bathing, offering reverence, and related rites—at a holy place, indicating that devotion is validated by sincere, repeated sacred actions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual practice is implied through the prescribed acts (snāna, pūjā, and allied observances), and basic Jyotiṣa-style sacred timing appears through the mention of the auspicious month Phālguna for undertaking such rites.