Shloka 128

Description of the Pilgrimage to the Sacred Tīrthas

Kurukṣetra-yātrā-krama

Devanagari script

कलिजानां तु पापानां पावनाय महात्मनाम् । ब्रह्मणा कल्पितं तीर्थं कुरुक्षेत्रं सुखावहम् ॥ १२८ ॥

Transliteration

kalijānāṃ tu pāpānāṃ pāvanāya mahātmanām | brahmaṇā kalpitaṃ tīrthaṃ kurukṣetraṃ sukhāvaham || 128 ||

Translation

Pour purifier les péchés de ceux qui naissent en l’âge de Kali—et pour le bien sanctifiant des grandes âmes—Brahmā institua le tīrtha nommé Kurukṣetra, dispensateur de bonheur et de prospérité.

Word by Word

• कलिजानाम्: of those born in the Kali age
• कलिजानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; कलौ जाताः (those born in Kali age)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• पापानाम्: of sins / of sinful (people)
• पापानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• पावनाय: for purification
• पावनाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the purpose of purification)

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; महान्तः आत्मानः येषाम् (great-souled)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• कल्पितम्: ordained; arranged
• कल्पितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तीर्थम् इति विशेषण

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: समानााधिकरण (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तीर्थम् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• सुखावहम्: bringing happiness
• सुखावहम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सुखम् आवहति इति (bringing happiness)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kurukshetra
• Kali-yuga

FAQs

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

It declares Kurukṣetra as a Brahmā-ordained tīrtha specifically effective for purifying Kali-yuga sins, emphasizing pilgrimage as a direct means to restore purity and attain auspicious well-being.

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

By praising a divinely established tīrtha, the verse supports bhakti through sacred association (tīrtha-sevā): approaching holy places with reverence, humility, and remembrance of the divine as a practical devotion in Kali-yuga.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Dharma-śāstric application of tīrtha-yātrā (ritual pilgrimage) as a remedial practice for sin (pāpa-kṣaya); while not detailing a specific Vedāṅga, it aligns with kalpa-oriented ritual discipline (proper performance of religious observances).