Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

ज्वलंती ज्वलनप्रख्या द्योतयंती दिशो दश । दिव्यांशुतीक्ष्ण वक्त्राता किंकिणीशतनादिता ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

jvalaṃtī jvalanaprakhyā dyotayaṃtī diśo daśa | divyāṃśutīkṣṇa vaktrātā kiṃkiṇīśatanāditā || 4 ||

Translation

Flamboyante, pareille au feu dans son éclat, elle illumina les dix directions; son visage, aigu de rayons divins, résonnait du tintement de centaines de clochettes.

Word by Word

• ज्वलन्ती: blazing
• ज्वलन्ती: कर्ता-विशेषण (Descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to शक्तिः implied)

• ज्वलन-प्रख्या: fire-like in appearance
• ज्वलन-प्रख्या: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ज्वलनवत् प्रख्या (like fire)

• द्योतयन्ती: illuminating
• द्योतयन्ती: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √द्योत्/√द्युत् (धातु) + णिच् + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-शतृ (causative present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्रकाशयन्ती’

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; द्वितीया, बहुवचनानुरूप (qualifying दिशः)

• दिव्य-अंशु-तीक्ष्ण: sharp with divine rays
• दिव्य-अंशु-तीक्ष्ण: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक) + तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-विशेषण (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय): दिव्याः अंशवः येषां ते/दिव्यांशुभिः तीक्ष्णः; प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गानुरूप (to वक्त्रातā)

• वक्त्राता: having a (terrible) mouth/face
• वक्त्राता: कर्ता (Subject; describing the śakti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आत (प्रातिपदिक/प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; रूपं ‘वक्त्रवती/वक्त्रयुक्ता’ इत्यर्थे (possessing a face/mouth)

• किंकिणी-शत-नादिता: resounding with hundreds of tinkling bells
• किंकिणी-शत-नादिता: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंकिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नादित (√नद् + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: किंकिणीशतानां नादेन नादिता (resounding with hundreds of bells)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the tirtha-mahatmya section; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta (wonder)","secondary_rasa":"vira (heroic)","emotional_journey":"Awe builds through escalating radiance—blazing like fire, lighting the ten directions—ending in a vivid sensory climax with bell-like resonance."}

FAQs

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

The verse uses classical Purāṇic imagery—blazing tejas, illumination of the ten directions, and auspicious bell-sounds—to signal a manifested divine presence whose darśana purifies and elevates the pilgrim’s mind.

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

By focusing attention on the deity’s radiance and auspicious attributes, the verse trains devotional contemplation (smaraṇa): bhakti deepens when the mind repeatedly visualizes and praises the Lord/Devi’s tejas and sacred signs.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedāṅga passage, it reflects Śikṣā-style phonetic aesthetics through onomatopoetic “nāda” (bell-sound) and devotional recitation cues—useful for mantra-japa and stotra chanting in tirtha rituals.