Shloka 34

Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha

Devanagari script

अन्यत्र स्यात्फलं तस्याधिकं पञ्चनदांबुभिः । न धूतपापसदृशं तीर्थं क्वापि महीतले ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

anyatra syātphalaṃ tasyādhikaṃ pañcanadāṃbubhiḥ | na dhūtapāpasadṛśaṃ tīrthaṃ kvāpi mahītale || 34 ||

Translation

En otros lugares, el fruto de la peregrinación puede ser mayor por las aguas de la Pañcanadā; pero sobre la faz de la tierra no hay ningún tīrtha comparable a Dhūtapāpa.

Word by Word

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• स्यात्: might be / could be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

• फलम्: result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; subject of स्यात्

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन; refers to Pañcanada-bath/its fruit

• अधिकम्: greater
• अधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; comparative sense 'greater' qualifying फलम्

• पञ्चनदाम्बुभिः: than the waters of Pañcanadā
• पञ्चनदाम्बुभिः: Karana (करण; standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चनद + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचन; comparison/instrumental 'than/by'

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

• धूतपापसदृशम्: equal to (a place) that washes away sins
• धूतपापसदृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूत + पाप + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण of तीर्थम्; 'similar to (that which has) washed-off sins'

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage-place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/object of implied अस्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; object in existential negation (implicit 'there is')

• क्वापि: anywhere
• क्वापि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/अनिश्चित-देशवाचक (indefinite locative adverb)

• महीतले: on the earth
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; 'on the earth-surface'

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Tirtha-Mahatmya within the Uttara-Bhaga tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dhutapapa
• Pañcanadā

FAQs

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

The verse ranks Dhūtapāpa as a uniquely powerful tīrtha on earth, emphasizing that certain sacred places are celebrated as incomparable for purification and pilgrimage merit.

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

By praising a specific tīrtha as unsurpassed, the text encourages devotional pilgrimage and reverent engagement (snāna, tīrtha-sevā) as supportive practices that purify the mind and strengthen faith in dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Kalpa (ritual practice): it implies the practical rite of tīrtha-snānā (bathing at a sacred ford) and the comparative assessment of ritual fruits (phala) associated with different sacred waters.