Shloka 9

Puruṣottama-māhātmya

The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra

Devanagari script

देशोऽसौ पुण्यशीलानां गुणैः सर्वैरलंकृतः । सर्वतीर्थानि पुण्यानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

deśo'sau puṇyaśīlānāṃ guṇaiḥ sarvairalaṃkṛtaḥ | sarvatīrthāni puṇyāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca || 9 ||

Translation

その国は、清らかな徳を備えた人々のあらゆる美徳によって飾られている。そこには功徳を授けるすべての聖なるティールタがあり、また功徳そのものなる聖なる住処が尽くそろう。

Word by Word

• देशः: the land/region
• देशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असौ: this/that (yonder)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• पुण्य-शीलानाम्: of the virtuous (pious-natured) people
• पुण्य-शीलानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (पुण्यं शीलं येषाम्)

• गुणैः: with qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (गुणैः)

• अलंकृतः: adorned
• अलंकृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलम्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘adorned’

• सर्व-तीर्थानि: all sacred fords/pilgrimage places
• सर्व-तीर्थानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि तीर्थानि)

• पुण्यानि: holy
• पुण्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (तीर्थानि)

• पुण्यानि: holy
• पुण्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (आयतनानि)

• आयतनानि: abodes/shrines
• आयतनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It declares that a truly sacred region is defined not only by geography but by the presence of virtuous people and merit-giving tīrthas and holy abodes—making it a concentrated field of dharma and puṇya.

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

By praising holy abodes and tīrthas, it supports bhakti in practice: devotees cultivate devotion through pilgrimage, worship, and association with the righteous, which strengthens reverence for the Divine even when not named explicitly in the verse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily emphasizes tīrtha-dharma (pilgrimage discipline) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it implies correct ritual observance at sacred sites (kalpa/ācāra) as the means by which such places are recognized as puṇya-āyatanas.