Shloka 45

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

दनुजकुलविनाशनैककर्मन्ननघारूढफणीश कंसकाल । रविशशिनयन प्रगल्भचेष्ट प्रधुतध्वांत नवांबुदाभ मेश ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

danujakulavināśanaikakarmannanaghārūḍhaphaṇīśa kaṃsakāla | raviśaśinayana pragalbhaceṣṭa pradhutadhvāṃta navāṃbudābha meśa || 45 ||

Translation

Ô Seigneur dont l’unique œuvre est d’anéantir la race des démons; ô Sans-faute qui chevauches le roi des serpents; ô Mort de Kaṃsa; ô Toi dont les yeux sont le Soleil et la Lune; ô hardi dans l’action, qui dissipes les ténèbres—ô Seigneur, sombre comme un nuage de pluie naissant, protège-moi.

Word by Word

• danuja-kula-vināśana-eka-karman: O one whose sole deed is the destruction of the Danuja clans
• danuja-kula-vināśana-eka-karman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danuja (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + vināśana (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (‘दनुजकुलस्य विनाशनम्’ + ‘एकं कर्म यस्य’ इति भावः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• anagha-ārūḍha-phaṇīśa: O sinless one mounted upon the lord of serpents
• anagha-ārūḍha-phaṇīśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक) + ārūḍha (कृदन्त; √ruh रुह् with ā-, क्त) + phaṇīśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष; ‘ārūḍha’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘mounted’. पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• kaṃsa-kāla: O death of Kaṃsa
• kaṃsa-kāla: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (‘कंसस्य कालः’ = death to Kaṃsa); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• ravi-śaśi-nayana: O one whose eyes are the sun and the moon
• ravi-śaśi-nayana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक) + śaśi (प्रातिपदिक) + nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (‘रविः शशिः इव नयने यस्य’ रूढिः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• pragalbha-ceṣṭa: O one of bold deeds
• pragalbha-ceṣṭa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pragalbha (प्रातिपदिक) + ceṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (‘प्रगल्भा चेष्टा यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• pradhuta-dhvāṃta: O dispeller of darkness
• pradhuta-dhvāṃta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradhuta (कृदन्त; √dhū धू with pra-, क्त) + dhvāṃta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (‘प्रधुतं ध्वान्तं यस्य’); ‘pradhuta’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘shaken off/dispelling’. पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nava-aṃbuda-ābha: O one with the hue of a fresh rain-cloud
• nava-aṃbuda-ābha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃbuda (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (‘नवाम्बुद इव आभा यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• meśa: O Meśa (epithet/name)
• meśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (here as an epithet/name)

Speaker

Devotee/narrative voice offering a stuti (hymn) to Vishnu/Krishna within the Tirtha-Mahatmya context of Uttara-Bhaga

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Shesha (Ananta)
• Kamsa
• Surya
• Chandra

FAQs

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

It frames the Lord as the cosmic protector who destroys demonic forces and dispels inner darkness (ignorance), encouraging the devotee to seek refuge (śaraṇāgati) in Vishnu/Krishna.

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

Bhakti is expressed as direct praise and surrender—naming the Lord’s deeds (slaying Kaṃsa), forms (riding Śeṣa), and cosmic attributes (Sun-Moon eyes), and ending with a clear prayer: “protect me.”

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse uses jyotiṣa imagery (Sun and Moon) and stotra-poetics (chandas/alankāra style) to convey theology—showing how sacred cosmology supports devotional contemplation.