Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

तस्मान्ममोपिरि विभो कृत्वा विश्वासमात्मना । भजस्व मां विशालाक्ष भक्तां वै कामरूपिणीम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

tasmānmamopiri vibho kṛtvā viśvāsamātmanā | bhajasva māṃ viśālākṣa bhaktāṃ vai kāmarūpiṇīm || 17 ||

Translation

それゆえ、主よ、我に心の底より信を置き、我を礼拝せよ—大いなる眼の御方よ。まことに我は汝の献身者（バクタ）にして、意のままにいかなる姿にも変じ得る者である。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाववत् निपात (ablatival adverb)

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उपरि: upon/with regard to
• उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb/postposition: ‘upon/over’)

• विभो: O Lord
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• विश्वासम्: trust/faith
• विश्वासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मना: by yourself/with your own self
• आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भजस्व: accept/embrace/worship
• भजस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विशाल-अक्ष: O large-eyed one
• विशाल-अक्ष: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विशालानि अक्षी यस्य)

• भक्ताम्: (me) the devoted woman
• भक्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (speaker as devotee)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• काम-रूपिणीम्: able to assume forms at will
• काम-रूपिणीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कामरूपिणी = कामं रूपं यस्याः/यथाकामरूपा)

Speaker

Unspecified (female devotee/attendant addressing a divine figure in narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vibhu (the Lord)
• Viśālākṣa (epithet: wide-eyed one)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti as a relationship of trust and surrender, where the devotee asks the Lord to rely on her devotion and to accept worship grounded in heartfelt confidence (viśvāsa).

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

Bhakti is shown as intimate reliance: the devotee urges the Lord to ‘place trust’ and to ‘resort to/worship’ (bhajasva), emphasizing personal faith (viśvāsa) rather than mere ritual formality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa ritual procedure) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the bhakti-principle of viśvāsa (trust) as a core discipline of worship.