Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

स कथं गाधिजाशप्तस्तिर्यग्योनिमुपागमत् । यो दमित्वा विभुर्विंध्यं वातापिं सागरं स्थितः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

sa kathaṃ gādhijāśaptastiryagyonimupāgamat | yo damitvā vibhurviṃdhyaṃ vātāpiṃ sāgaraṃ sthitaḥ || 44 ||

Translation

¿Cómo pudo aquel poderoso—maldecido por el hijo de Gādhi—nacer en un vientre animal, él que había sometido al monte Vindhya, contenido a Vātāpi y hecho que el océano quedara inmóvil?

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; interrogative adverb

• गाधिजा-शप्तः: cursed by Gādhijā
• गाधिजा-शप्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाधिजा + शप्त (शप्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समास: गाधिजया शप्तः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• तिर्यक्-योनिम्: an animal womb; brute birth
• तिर्यक्-योनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिर्यक् + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समास: तिर्यक्-योनिः (तत्पुरुष)

• उपागमत्: attained; went to
• उपागमत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (गम्-धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• दमित्वा: having subdued
• दमित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दम् (दम्-धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) = having subdued

• विभुः: the mighty one; lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विन्ध्यम्: the Vindhya (mountain)
• विन्ध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वातापिम्: Vātāpi
• वातापिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वातापि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सागरम्: the ocean
• सागरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स्थितः: stood; remained
• स्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्थित (स्था-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively = 'stood/remained'

Speaker

Narada (narration within the tirtha-mahatmya dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta (wonder)","secondary_rasa":"shanta (peace)","emotional_journey":"Perplexity at an apparent contradiction—cosmic power versus animal birth—inviting a deeper karmic/curse-based explanation."}

Characters & Entities

• Gādhi-putra (son of Gādhi)
• Vindhya
• Vātāpi
• Sāgara (ocean)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic principle that even extraordinary power and achievements can be overturned by the force of śāpa and karma, urging humility and reliance on dharma and inner purity rather than pride in siddhis.

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

By contrasting worldly might with the sudden fall caused by a curse, the verse implicitly points to bhakti as the steadier refuge—devotion to the Supreme is portrayed across Purāṇic narratives as what ultimately protects and uplifts when external powers fail.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly illustrates dharma-kathā (ethical narrative) rather than a technical Vedāṅga; practically, it reinforces the discipline of vāṅmaya-saṃyama (careful speech and conduct), since śāpa and its effects are tied to moral-ritual order emphasized in Kalpa (ritual-dharma) traditions.