Shloka 23

The Greatness of Kāśī (Avimukta): Pilgrimage Calendar, Yātrā-Dharma, and the Network of Śiva-Liṅgas

Devanagari script

अंगारेशी पश्चिमे तु वायव्ये भद्रकालिका । उत्तरे भीमचंडा च महामत्ता तथैशके ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

aṃgāreśī paścime tu vāyavye bhadrakālikā | uttare bhīmacaṃḍā ca mahāmattā tathaiśake || 23 ||

Translation

À l’ouest se tient Aṅgāreśī ; au Vāyavya (nord‑ouest) se tient Bhadrakālikā. Au nord se tient Bhīmacāṇḍā, et à l’Īśāna (nord‑est) se tient Mahāmattā.

Word by Word

• अंगारेशी: Aṅgāreśī
• अंगारेशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गार (प्रातिपदिक) + ईशी/ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अङ्गारस्य ईशी)

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• वायव्ये: in the northwest
• वायव्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (northwest direction)

• भद्रकालिका: Bhadrakālikā
• भद्रकालिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (भद्रा या सा कालिका)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भीमचंडा: Bhīmacaṇḍā
• भीमचंडा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + चण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (भीमा या सा चण्डा)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• महामत्ता: Mahāmattā
• महामत्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मत्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती मत्ता)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक अव्यय (likewise/also)

• ईशके: in the northeast
• ईशके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (northeast direction)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgāreśī
• Bhadrakālikā
• Bhīmacāṇḍā
• Mahāmattā
• Vāyu (directional quarter)
• Īśāna (directional quarter)

FAQs

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

It maps specific Śakti-forms to the cardinal and intercardinal directions, teaching that sacred space is protected and energized through directional guardians, a key idea in tīrtha-māhātmya and temple/ritual orientation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, orderly worship—honoring divine presence in every direction—so the devotee approaches a tīrtha or shrine with awareness, protection, and focused remembrance of the Devī’s forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual application of directional science (dik-vinyāsa) used in kalpa/ritual procedure—placing deities by quarters for worship, protection rites, and mandala arrangement, aligning practice with traditional liturgical orientation.