Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

तया सह विशालाक्ष्या रत्नावल्या मुदान्विता । ययावाकाशमार्गेण काशीमभि मुलोचने ॥ ८९ ॥

Transliteration

tayā saha viśālākṣyā ratnāvalyā mudānvitā | yayāvākāśamārgeṇa kāśīmabhi mulocane || 89 ||

Translation

大きな眼のラトナーヴァリーを伴い、喜びに満ちて、彼女は天空の道を通ってカーシーへ向かった、ああ優しい眼差しの女よ。

Word by Word

• tayā: with her/by her
• tayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह (postposition) = 'together with' (takes instrumental)

• viśāla-akṣyā: with the large-eyed (woman)
• viśāla-akṣyā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'विशालाः अक्षी यस्याः/या'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ratnāvalyā: with Ratnāvalī
• ratnāvalyā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratnāvalī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; proper name

• mudā-anvitā: endowed with joy
• mudā-anvitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्यय from anu-i)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'मुदया अन्विता' (endowed with joy); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ākāśa-mārgeṇa: by the sky-path (through the air)
• ākāśa-mārgeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'आकाशस्य मार्गः'; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• kāśīm: to Kāśī
• kāśīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; place-name

• abhi: towards
• abhi: Prati (प्रति/दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preverb/adposition) = 'towards' (governs accusative)

• mulocane: O (fair-)eyed one
• mulocane: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-locanā? / mūla-locana? (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), द्विवचन? एकवचन?; पाठसन्देह: 'मुलोचने' सम्भवतः 'सुलोचने' (O fair-eyed one) इति; स्त्रीलिङ्ग सम्बोधन एकवचन अपेक्षित

Speaker

Suta (narrating to the sages, within the Kashi Mahatmya narrative of Book 2)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kashi (Varanasi)
• Ratnavali

FAQs

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

It highlights Kāśī as a deliberate spiritual destination: the verse marks a purposeful journey toward the foremost tīrtha, implying that reaching Kāśī is itself a meritorious, dharma-aligned act within the Mahātmya.

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

While not explicitly teaching bhakti practices, it supports the bhakti framework of tīrtha-yātrā—moving joyfully toward a sacred place associated with Śiva and liberation—where devotion is expressed through pilgrimage and intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa ritual procedure) is taught in this verse; it is primarily narrative, situating the movement toward a tīrtha (Kāśī) within the Mahātmya context.