Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 2

Plakṣaprasravaṇa–Kārapacana tīrtha-varṇana and Nārada’s war briefing (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 53)

पुरा च राजर्षिवरेण धीमता बहूनि वर्षाण्यमितेन तेजसा । प्रकृष्टमेतत्‌ कुरुणा महात्मना ततः कुरुक्षेत्रमितीह पप्रथे,पहले अमित तेजस्वी बुद्धिमान्‌ राजर्षिप्रवर महात्मा कुरुने इस क्षेत्रको बहुत वर्षोतक जोता था, इसलिये इस जगतमें इसका नाम कुरक्षेत्र प्रसिद्ध हो गया

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

purā ca rājarṣivareṇa dhīmatā bahūni varṣāṇy amitena tejasā |

prakṛṣṭam etat kuruṇā mahātmanā tataḥ kurukṣetram itīha paprathe ||

Vaiśampāyana said: Long ago, this land was excellently cultivated for many years by the great-souled Kuru—foremost among royal seers, wise, and possessed of immeasurable splendor. Therefore, in this world it became renowned by the name “Kurukṣetra.”

पुराformerly, in ancient times
पुरा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरा
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
राजर्षि-वरेणby the best of royal sages
राजर्षि-वरेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootराजर्षि-वर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
धीमताby the wise one
धीमता:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootधीमत्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
बहूनिmany
बहूनि:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
वर्षाणिyears
वर्षाणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ष
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
अमितेनwith immeasurable
अमितेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअमित
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
तेजसाsplendor, power
तेजसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतेजस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
प्रकृष्टम्excellent, well-prepared
प्रकृष्टम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रकृष्ट
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
एतत्this
एतत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कुरुणाby Kuru
कुरुणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकुरु
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
महात्मनाby the great-souled one
महात्मना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
ततःtherefore, from that
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
कुरुक्षेत्रम्Kuru-field, Kurukshetra
कुरुक्षेत्रम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकुरु-क्षेत्र
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इतिthus (as)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
इहhere, in this world
इह:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह
पप्रथेbecame renowned, spread (in fame)
पप्रथे:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-√था
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
K
King Kuru
K
Kurukṣetra

Educational Q&A

The verse links a place’s sanctity and fame to sustained righteous effort: Kurukṣetra is revered because a virtuous king-sage, Kuru, labored there for years, implying that dharmic action can consecrate land and memory.

Vaiśampāyana explains the origin of the name “Kurukṣetra,” stating that in ancient times King Kuru cultivated and developed this region for many years, and thus it became widely known by that name.