Shloka 24
Plakṣaprasravaṇa–Kārapacana tīrtha-varṇana and Nārada’s war briefing (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 53)
'श्रेष्ठ देवताओ! यहाँ ब्राह्मणशिरोमणि तथा नृप आदि मुख्य-मुख्य पुरुषसिंह नरेश महान् यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करके देहत्यागके पश्चात् उत्तम गतिको प्राप्त हुए हैं ।। तरन्तुकारन्तुकयोर्यदन्तरं रामह्दानां च मचक्रुकस्य च । एतत् कुरुक्षेत्रसमन्तपजञ्चकं प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिरुच्यते,“तरन्तुक, अरन्तुक, रामहद (परशुराम कुण्ड) तथा मचक्क़ुक--इनके बीचका जो भूभाग है, यही समन्तपंचक एवं कुरुक्षेत्र है। इसे प्रजापतिकी उत्तरवेदी कहते हैं
śreṣṭha-devatāḥ! iha brāhmaṇa-śiromaṇayaḥ tathā nṛpādayaḥ mukhya-mukhya-puruṣa-siṁhā nṛpā mahān-yajñān anuṣṭhāya deha-tyāgāt paścād uttamāṁ gatiṁ prāptavantaḥ. tarantukāraṇṭukayor yad antaraṁ rāma-hradānāṁ ca macakrukasya ca, etat kuru-kṣetra-samantapañcakaṁ prajāpater uttaravedir ucyate.
ラーマは言った。「おお、最もすぐれた神々よ！ まさにこの地において、卓越したバラモンたちと、人の中の獅子たる第一の王たちが大いなる祭祀を執り行い、身を捨てたのち最高の境地に到った。タラントゥカとアラントゥカの間、またラーマの池とマチャクルカの池の間にあるその地こそ、クルクシェートラのサマンタパンチャカである。これはプラジャーパティの『北の祭壇』と呼ばれる。」
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Kurukṣetra as a sanctified sacrificial landscape: performing righteous rites (yajña) in a holy kṣetra and living by dharma is presented as leading to an ‘uttamā gati’ (highest destiny). It links ethical-religious action with spiritual outcome, anchored in sacred geography.
Rama addresses the gods and identifies a specific bounded region—between named landmarks (Tarantuka, Arantuka, Rāma-hradas, Macakruka)—as Kurukṣetra/Samantapañcaka, revered as Prajāpati’s Northern Altar, and notes that great Brahmins and kings attained supreme states after performing major sacrifices there.