Shloka 142

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

आस्ते तत्र पुटे देवि पादांगुष्ठं धयञ्छिशुः । उर्वशीपुलिने रम्ये विपुले हंसपांडुरे ॥ १४२ ॥

Transliteration

āste tatra puṭe devi pādāṃguṣṭhaṃ dhayañchiśuḥ | urvaśīpuline ramye vipule haṃsapāṃḍure || 142 ||

Translation

おお女神よ、そこなる窪みにて幼子は坐し、自らの足の親指を吸っていた。名をウルヴァシーという麗しき河岸にて—広々と輝き、白鳥のごとく白く光っていた。

Word by Word

• आस्ते: sits/remains
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative, 3rd sg

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक); 'there'

• पुटे: in a hollow/cavity
• पुटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (आमन्त्रण), एकवचन; Vocative singular

• पादाङ्गुष्ठम्: the big toe (of the foot)
• पादाङ्गुष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (पादस्य अङ्गुष्ठः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• धयन्: sucking
• धयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) (पिबति-अर्थे धा/धय्) → धयन्त् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; present active participle; 'sucking/drinking'

• शिशुः: the child
• शिशुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• उर्वशीपुलिने: on the Urvashi riverbank/sandbank
• उर्वशीपुलिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उर्वशी (प्रातिपदिक) + पुलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (उर्वश्याः पुलिनम्/उर्वशी-नामकं पुलिनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• रम्ये: beautiful
• रम्ये: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पुलिने इति विशेषण), सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• विपुले: broad/spacious
• विपुले: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पुलिने इति विशेषण), सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• हंसपाण्डुरे: pale/white like a swan
• हंसपाण्डुरे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (हंसवत् पाण्डुरः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पुलिने इति विशेषण), सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

Speaker

Narada (narration within Tirtha-Mahatmya section; addressed to Devi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Urvaśī

FAQs

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

It sanctifies a specific tirtha landscape by portraying an extraordinary, contemplative infant on the Urvaśī riverbank—typical of Mahatmya passages that mark places as spiritually potent and worthy of pilgrimage.

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

Bhakti is implied through sacred-place remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverent attention to the divine presence in a tirtha setting; the verse invites devotional contemplation of holiness manifesting in simple, intimate imagery.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Nirukta/semantic precision and Chandas awareness: the verse uses evocative compounds (e.g., haṃsapāṃḍura, urvaśī-pulina) that guide correct understanding and recitation in Purāṇic tirtha descriptions rather than prescribing a specific ritual rule.