Shloka 25

Description of the Pilgrimage to the Sacred Tīrthas

Kurukṣetra-yātrā-krama

Devanagari script

गंधाद्यैरुपचारैस्तु ब्राह्मणं प्रार्च्य भोजयेत् । ततः पंचनदं गच्छेत्तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃdhādyairupacāraistu brāhmaṇaṃ prārcya bhojayet | tataḥ paṃcanadaṃ gacchettīrthaṃ trailokyaviśrutam || 25 ||

Translation

Après avoir honoré un brāhmaṇa par des offrandes—parfums et autres services rituels—qu’on le nourrisse; puis qu’on se rende à Pañcanada, le tīrtha renommé dans les trois mondes.

Word by Word

• गन्ध-आद्यैः: with perfumes etc.
• गन्ध-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’समासान्त—“गन्धादि” = गन्धः आदिः येषां तैः (instrumental plural)

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अनुज्ञा-सूचक

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रार्च्य: having worshipped
• प्रार्च्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); “प्रार्च्य” = प्र + अर्च् + क्त्वा (having worshipped)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्—“cause to eat/feed”

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Desha/Kala-adhikarana (देश/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘thereafter/from there’

• पञ्चनदम्: Pañcanada (the place)
• पञ्चनदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास—“पञ्च नदाः यस्मिन्/यत्र” (name of a tīrtha)

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तीर्थम्: (to the) sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; पञ्चनदस्य विशेषण-भावेन

• त्रैलोक्य-विश्रुतम्: renowned in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-विश्रुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—“त्रैलोक्ये विश्रुतम्” (renowned in the three worlds)

Speaker

Narada (traditionally narrating tirtha-mahatmya teachings to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Panchanada Tirtha
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

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

It teaches that tīrtha-yātrā is best preceded by dharmic preparation—respectful worship and feeding of a brāhmaṇa—so the pilgrimage bears fuller merit (puṇya) and purity of intent.

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

Though framed as pilgrimage instruction, it expresses bhakti through humble service (upacāra) and reverence to sacred persons and places, aligning the traveler’s mind with sacredness before entering a renowned tīrtha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual practice: the prescribed sequence of upacāra (honoring) and brāhmaṇa-bhojana (feeding) as a preparatory rite connected with tīrtha-yātrā.