Shloka 5

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

Devanagari script

रक्तचंदनलिप्तांगी रक्तवस्त्रोपशोभिता । हृदि तस्य निपत्यासौ शक्तिर्विप्रकरच्युता ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

raktacaṃdanaliptāṃgī raktavastropaśobhitā | hṛdi tasya nipatyāsau śaktirviprakaracyutā || 5 ||

Translation

Smeared with red sandal paste and adorned in red garments, that Power—having slipped from the hand of the brāhmaṇa—fell upon his heart.

Word by Word

• रक्त-चन्दन-लिप्त-अङ्गी: whose limbs were smeared with red sandal paste
• रक्त-चन्दन-लिप्त-अङ्गी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Describing śakti)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + लिप्त (√लिप् + क्त, कृदन्त) + अङ्गिन्/अङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘रक्तचन्दनेन लिप्तानि अङ्गानि यस्याः सा’

• रक्त-वस्त्र-उपशोभिता: adorned with red garments
• रक्त-वस्त्र-उपशोभिता: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपशोभित (उप√शुभ्/√शोभ् + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: रक्तवस्त्रेण उपशोभिता (adorned by red garments)

• हृदि: in the heart/chest
• हृदि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/of that (demon)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप

• निपत्य: having fallen/striking down
• निपत्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerundial action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि√पत् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययीभाव/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष ‘ल्यप्’ (absolutive/gerund); अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• असौ: she/that one
• असौ: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप

• शक्तिः: the śakti (spear/power)
• शक्तिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विप्र-कर-च्युता: fallen from the brahmin’s hand
• विप्र-कर-च्युता: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + च्युत (√च्यु/√च्युत् + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: विप्रस्य करात् च्युता (fallen from the Brahmin’s hand)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) presenting the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha narrative

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Characters & Entities

• Vipra (brāhmaṇa)
• Śakti (divine power/weapon)

FAQs

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

It depicts sacred power (śakti) as a tangible, potent force: once it departs proper control (slipping from the brāhmaṇa’s hand), it immediately impacts the heart—signaling karmic consequence and the seriousness of handling divine energies within tirtha narratives.

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

Indirectly, it underscores reverence and surrender: divine power is not merely symbolic but living and effective, encouraging devotees to approach holy rites with humility, purity, and reliance on the Lord’s grace rather than personal control.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (Kalpa) is implied: correct handling of sacred implements/energies and adherence to procedural purity are essential, since a lapse can produce immediate spiritual and physical consequences within a rite.