Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

भिक्षार्थं देवदेवस्य धर्मपुत्रस्य मानद । द्वारस्थो देहि भिक्षां मे विष्णो इत्यवदन्मुहुः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

bhikṣārthaṃ devadevasya dharmaputrasya mānada | dvārastho dehi bhikṣāṃ me viṣṇo ityavadanmuhuḥ || 27 ||

Translation

誉れを授ける御方よ、彼は戸口に立ち、神々の神・ダルマの子に施しを乞うて、たびたび言った。「ヴィシュヌよ、我に施しを与えたまえ。」

Word by Word

• भिक्षार्थम्: for alms
• भिक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भिक्षायाः अर्थः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘देवः देवः’ = ‘god of gods’); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• धर्मपुत्रस्य: of Dharma’s son
• धर्मपुत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मस्य पुत्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मानद: O honorable one
• मानद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ‘O giver of honor’

• द्वारस्थः: standing at the door
• द्वारस्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वार + स्थ (स्था धातु-निष्ठ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वारे स्थितः); क्त-निष्ठान्त/विशेषणवत्, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (speaker as) ‘standing at the door’

• देहि: give
• देहि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (genitive/dative enclitic); here दत्तकर्म-सम्प्रदानार्थे (to me)

• विष्णो: O Vishnu
• विष्णो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyānvaya (वाक्यान्वय/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अवदन्: said
• अवदन्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of frequency)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within Uttara-Bhaga discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dharma-putra (son of Dharma)
• Deva-deva (Lord of gods)

FAQs

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

It highlights humility and persistent remembrance of Viṣṇu: the devotee approaches as a supplicant, treating even worldly need (bhikṣā) as an occasion for surrender and continuous nāma-ucchāraṇa (repetition of the divine name).

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

Bhakti is shown as simple, direct, and insistent prayer—standing at the threshold and repeatedly calling “O Viṣṇu, give,” indicating reliance on the Lord rather than on personal power or status.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly emphasizes devotional speech (mantra-like repetition) rather than a technical Vedāṅga; practically, it reflects disciplined verbal practice aligned with Śikṣā (proper utterance) and Bhakti-oriented japa (repetition).