Shloka 131

Description of the Pilgrimage to the Sacred Tīrthas

Kurukṣetra-yātrā-krama

Devanagari script

अथ किं बहुनोक्तेन विधिजे श्रृणु निश्चितम् । सेवेतैव कुरुक्षेत्रं यदीच्छेद्भवमोक्षणम् ॥ १३१ ॥

Transliteration

atha kiṃ bahunoktena vidhije śrṛṇu niścitam | sevetaiva kurukṣetraṃ yadīcchedbhavamokṣaṇam || 131 ||

Translation

À quoi bon en dire davantage? Ô fils du Créateur (Brahmā), écoute ce qui est certain: qui désire la délivrance du saṃsāra doit assurément recourir à Kurukṣetra et le servir.

Word by Word

• अथ: now/then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक-अव्यय (then/now)

• किम्: what (use?)
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्ययप्रयोग (interrogative used idiomatically)

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘बहुना उक्तेन’ = by much speaking

• उक्तेन: by what is said/speaking
• उक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वच् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• विधिजे: O Brahmā (born of the Creator)
• विधिजे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधिज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विधेः जः/जः = विधिजः, ‘O Brahmā’)

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• निश्चितम्: the certain/definite (truth)
• निश्चितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि+चि धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to be understood with an implied ‘वचनम्/तत्त्वम्’)

• सेवेत: should resort to/serve
• सेवेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुरूणां क्षेत्रम्)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional ‘if’)

• इच्छेत्: should desire
• इच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भवमोक्षणम्: release from worldly existence
• भवमोक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव + मोक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भवस्य मोक्षणम्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kurukshetra

FAQs

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

It presents a decisive conclusion of the tīrtha-māhātmya: sincere association with Kurukṣetra—approached with reverence and service—supports liberation from saṃsāra.

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

By using the verb “seveta” (should serve), the verse frames pilgrimage not as tourism but as devotional service—humble engagement with the sacred place and its dharmic disciplines for the sake of mokṣa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is tīrtha-vidhi in spirit—undertaking pilgrimage with niścaya (firm conviction) and sevā-bhāva (service attitude).