Shloka 47

Description of the Pilgrimage to the Sacred Tīrthas

Kurukṣetra-yātrā-krama

Devanagari script

कपिलाह्रदमासाद्य स्नात्वाभ्यर्च्य सुरान्पितॄन् । सहस्रकपिलापुण्यं लभते नात्र संशयः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

kapilāhradamāsādya snātvābhyarcya surānpitṝn | sahasrakapilāpuṇyaṃ labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 47 ||

Translation

Wer Kapilā-hrada erreicht, dort badet und die Götter sowie die Ahnen (Pitṛ) verehrt, erlangt Verdienst, das der Gabe von tausend falben Kühen gleicht — daran besteht kein Zweifel.

Word by Word

• कपिला-ह्रदम्: Kapilā lake/pond
• कपिला-ह्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपिलायाः ह्रदः)

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having reached/approached’

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त; ‘having bathed’

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त; ‘having worshipped’

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पितṝन्: the ancestors
• पितṝन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (पितृ-शब्दः)

• सहस्र-कपिला-पुण्यम्: merit equal to (that of) a thousand Kapilā-cows
• सहस्र-कपिला-पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सहस्रकपिलानां पुण्यम् / सहस्रकपिलासम्बन्धि पुण्यम्)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अत्र: here; in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: ‘here/in this matter’)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kapila-hrada
• Devas
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches the tirtha-mahatmya principle: bathing at Kapilā-hrada and offering worship to devas and pitṛs generates exceptionally high puṇya, equated here with the famed merit of donating a thousand kapilā (tawny) cows.

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

Bhakti is expressed through reverent action—approaching a sacred place, performing snāna with faith, and offering pūjā to the devas along with ancestral rites—showing devotion as disciplined worship rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (Kalpa) is implied: tirtha-snana and abhyarcana, along with pitṛ-related rites (tarpana/śrāddha context), indicating correct performance of dharmic observances during pilgrimage.