Shloka 23

Account of Various Sacred Tīrthas

Pilgrimage Merits and Prayāga Supremacy

Devanagari script

यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा मुनयश्च तपोधनाः । भूतयक्षाः पिशाचाश्च किन्नराः समहोरगाः

Transliteration

yatra brahmādayo devā munayaśca tapodhanāḥ | bhūtayakṣāḥ piśācāśca kinnarāḥ samahoragāḥ

Translation

Là—où se tiennent Brahmā et les autres dieux, ainsi que les sages riches d’austérités; s’y trouvent aussi les bhūta et les yakṣa, les piśāca, les kinnara, avec les grands serpents.

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मा आदिः येषाम्)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तपो-धनाः: those whose wealth is austerity (ascetics)
• तपो-धनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (तपः धनं येषाम्)

• भूत-यक्षाः: bhūtas and yakṣas
• भूत-यक्षाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (भूताश्च यक्षाश्च)

• पिशाचाः: piśācas (ghouls)
• पिशाचाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• किन्नराः: kinnaras
• किन्नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किन्नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सम-ह-उरगाः: together with serpents (ahis and uragas)
• सम-ह-उरगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + अहि (प्रातिपदिक) + उरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (अहयश्च उरगाश्च) ; 'सम' = सह/समेत (together with)

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent narration/dialogue within Svarga-khaṇḍa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्रह्म + आदयः → ब्रह्मादयः; मुनयः + च → मुनयश्च; तपोधनाः इति समास; भूतयक्षाः इति द्वन्द्व; पिशाचाः + च → पिशाचाश्च; सम + अहि + उरगाः → समहोरगाः (सम + अहि → समहि; हि + उ → हो)।

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Devas
• Munis
• Bhūtas
• Yakṣas
• Piśācas
• Kinnaras
• Mahoragas (Nāgas)

FAQs

What is the verse describing by listing devas, sages, and other beings together?

It depicts a sacred or extraordinary locale where multiple classes of beings—divine, ascetic, and semi-divine/otherworldly—are simultaneously present, emphasizing the place’s cosmic significance.

Who are the bhūtas, yakṣas, piśācas, kinnaras, and mahoragas mentioned here?

They are traditional categories of non-human beings in Purāṇic cosmology: bhūtas (spirits), yakṣas (guardian/nature spirits), piśācas (ghoulish beings), kinnaras (celestial musicians), and mahoragas/nāgas (great serpents).

What theological or ethical idea is implied by sages being called 'tapodhanāḥ'?

Calling sages 'tapodhanāḥ' implies that austerity and spiritual discipline are their true wealth, highlighting ascetic merit as a source of spiritual authority and presence among higher beings.