Shloka 26

The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power

Devanagari script

नानावर्णा विकर्णाश्च चांडाला ये जुगुप्सिताः । किल्बिषैः पूर्णदेहाश्च प्रकृष्टैः पातकैस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

nānāvarṇā vikarṇāśca cāṃḍālā ye jugupsitāḥ | kilbiṣaiḥ pūrṇadehāśca prakṛṣṭaiḥ pātakaistathā || 26 ||

Translation

जो अनेक वर्णों वाले, विकृत कानों वाले, और चाण्डाल कहकर घृणित माने जाते हैं—उनके शरीर भी पापों से भरे होते हैं, और वे घोर अपराधों से युक्त होते हैं।

Word by Word

• नानावर्णाः: of various castes/colors
• नानावर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (नानाः वर्णाः येषां/नानावर्णाः)

• विकर्णाः: deformed
• विकर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'deformed/ill-formed'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चाण्डालाः: Chandalas (outcastes)
• चाण्डालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• जुगुप्सिताः: despised
• जुगुप्सिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √गुप्स् (धातु) → जुगुप्सित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'despised'

• किल्बिषैः: with sins
• किल्बिषैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किल्बिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पूर्णदेहाः: whose bodies are filled (with sin)
• पूर्णदेहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (किल्बिषैः पूर्णः देहः येषां/पूर्णदेहाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रकृष्टैः: severe
• प्रकृष्टैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'severe/very great'

• पातकैः: with sins/crimes
• पातकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus/also')

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic discourse; verse describes karmic results)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It stresses karmaphala: grave pātakas manifest as painful, stigmatized conditions in embodied life, warning the seeker to avoid adharma and pursue purification.

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

Indirectly, it motivates turning away from sin and toward sattvic living; in the Purāṇic framework, sincere devotion supported by ethical conduct and purification is presented as the safer course than pātaka-driven life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse aligns with Dharmaśāstra-style classification of pātaka (heinous sins) and implies the need for prāyaścitta procedures—practical ritual/ethical guidance rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.