Shloka 28

Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha

Devanagari script

तुलितोऽधिकतां प्राप्तो बिंदुः पांचनदस्तु सः । पंचकूर्चेन पीतेन यात्र शुद्धिरुदाहृता ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

tulito'dhikatāṃ prāpto biṃduḥ pāṃcanadastu saḥ | paṃcakūrcena pītena yātra śuddhirudāhṛtā || 28 ||

Translation

When compared, that single drop is declared to surpass even the Pañcanadā; and it is said that by drinking the Pañcakūrcha one gains the purification required for setting out on a journey.

Word by Word

• तुलितः: weighed / compared
• तुलितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल् (धातु) → तुलित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• अधिकताम्: superiority / greater-ness
• अधिकताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्तः: having attained
• प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बिन्दुः: a drop
• बिन्दुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• पाञ्चनदः: of Pañcanada (five rivers)
• पाञ्चनदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाञ्चनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of बिन्दुः)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• सः: that / he (that one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पञ्चकूर्चेन: with the five tufts/bundles (pañcakūrca)
• पञ्चकूर्चेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + कूर्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: द्विगु (पञ्च कूर्चाः)

• पीतेन: drunk / having been drunk
• पीतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) → पीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of पञ्चकूर्चेन / implied ‘जलम्’)

• यात्र: where
• यात्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• शुद्धिः: purification
• शुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उदाहृता: is declared / is stated
• उदाहृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + आ + हृ (धातु) → उदाहृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘कथिता/उक्ता’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pañcanada
• Pañcakūrcha

FAQs

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

The verse elevates even a single sanctifying ‘drop’ (bindu) associated with sacred tirtha context and prescribes Pañcakūrcha as a recognized means of shuddhi, emphasizing inner and outer purity as the foundation for pilgrimage merit.

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

In the tirtha framework of the Narada Purana, purification before yatra supports steady worship and remembrance; ritual shuddhi is presented as a practical aid so the pilgrim can approach sacred places and acts of devotion with reverence and discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-style shauca rules: specifying a purificatory substance (Pañcakūrcha) and its application (drinking) to qualify one for yātrā, i.e., ritual readiness for travel/pilgrimage.