Shloka 12

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

Devanagari script

भार्यार्थे समुपानीता वाराणस्या द्विजोत्तम । यस्याः सीमां न लंघंति पातकानि ह्यशेषतः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

bhāryārthe samupānītā vārāṇasyā dvijottama | yasyāḥ sīmāṃ na laṃghaṃti pātakāni hyaśeṣataḥ || 12 ||

Translation

हे द्विजश्रेष्ठ, पत्नी प्राप्ति के लिए भी वाराणसी का आश्रय लिया जाता है; क्योंकि समस्त पाप उसकी सीमा को पार नहीं कर पाते (वहाँ प्रवेश नहीं कर सकते)।

Word by Word

• भार्यार्थे: for (as) a wife
• भार्यार्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थी/षष्ठीभाव: ‘भार्यायै अर्थः’/‘भार्याया अर्थे’); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे ‘for the purpose of a wife’

• समुपानीता: was brought
• समुपानीता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘brought/led (to)’

• वाराणस्याः: of Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘उत्तमः द्विजः’); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• यस्याः: whose
• यस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• सीमाम्: boundary/limit
• सीमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• लंघन्ति: cross/overstep
• लंघन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पातकानि: sins
• पातकानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Avadharana/Hetu (अवधारण/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• अशेषतः: entirely
• अशेषतः: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial): ‘completely/without remainder’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Varanasi (Kashi)

FAQs

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

It proclaims Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as a uniquely purifying tirtha-kṣetra whose very boundary prevents sins from prevailing, highlighting the kṣetra’s inherent papa-nāśa (sin-destroying) power.

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

By glorifying a sacred kṣetra, the verse supports bhakti through tirtha-sevā and kṣetra-smaraṇa—approaching holy places with reverence is presented as a devotional means that weakens the hold of pāpa and supports spiritual life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly reflects Dharma-śāstra practice around tīrtha-yātrā and kṣetra-māhātmya—how sacred geography (kṣetra-sīmā) is treated as ritually and ethically significant for purification.