Shloka 22

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

एषा घोरतरा हत्या मीनगंध्या जरातुरा । लेलिहाना सुरेशान ग्रहीतुं त्वानुधावति ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

eṣā ghoratarā hatyā mīnagaṃdhyā jarāturā | lelihānā sureśāna grahītuṃ tvānudhāvati || 22 ||

Translation

おお神々の主よ、この最も恐ろしき殺害の罪は—魚のごとく生臭く、歳月に擦り切れ老い衰えながら—唇を舐めつつあなたを捕らえんと、後を追って疾走して来る。

Word by Word

• eṣā: this (she)
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun, Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular

• ghoratarā: more terrible
• ghoratarā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (घोर प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तरप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Comparative adjective (तर), Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular; qualifying hatyā

• hatyā: the killing/sin (hatyā)
• hatyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hatyā (हत्या प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular

• mīna-gandhyā: fish-smelling
• mīna-gandhyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mīna (मीन) + gandhī (गन्धी)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय: 'fish-smelling'); Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular; qualifying hatyā

• jarā-turā: afflicted by old age
• jarā-turā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jarā (जरा) + tura (तुर)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष: afflicted by old age); Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular; qualifying hatyā

• lelihānā: licking (repeatedly)
• lelihānā: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lih (लिह् धातु) + śānac (शानच् प्रत्यय) with reduplication
• Form: Kṛdanta present active participle (शानच्), Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular; describing hatyā; intensive/reduplicated stem lelih-

• sureśāna: O lord of the gods
• sureśāna: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sureśāna (सुरेशान प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सुर + ईशान), Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular

• grahītum: to seize
• grahītum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह् धातु) + tumun (तुमुन् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta infinitive (तुमुन्)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative (2), Singular

• anudhāvati: runs after, pursues
• anudhāvati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu+dhāv (अनु + धाव् धातु)
• Form: Tinganta, Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Narrator (Purana dialogue context; addressing Indra as sureśāna)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Indra

FAQs

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

The verse personifies grave sin (hatyā) as an inescapable pursuer, teaching that harmful karma clings to the doer until it is neutralized through dharma, repentance, and purifying means such as tirtha, vrata, and devotion.

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

By showing sin as actively “seizing” the soul, it implies the need for a higher refuge; in the Narada Purana’s spirit, steadfast Vishnu-bhakti—supported by vows and holy observances—functions as a protective, purifying force against the consequences of papa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly highlights dharma-śāstric ethics and the doctrine of karma rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it supports the prayāścitta framework (ritual atonement and purification disciplines) often applied in tirtha-mahātmya settings.