Shloka 37

Description of the Pilgrimage to the Sacred Tīrthas

Kurukṣetra-yātrā-krama

Devanagari script

प्रसाद्य यक्षिणीं तत्र द्वारस्थामुपवासकृत् । स्नात्वाभ्यर्च्याशयेद्विप्रान्महापातकशांतये ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

prasādya yakṣiṇīṃ tatra dvārasthāmupavāsakṛt | snātvābhyarcyāśayedviprānmahāpātakaśāṃtaye || 37 ||

Translation

そこで断食（ウパヴァーサ）を行い、門口に立つヤクシニーをなだめ奉れ。次いで沐浴し礼拝を修し、婆羅門たちに食を施して敬い、大罪（マハーパータカ）を鎮めるべし。

Word by Word

• prasādya: having propitiated
• prasādya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having propitiated/pleased’

• yakṣiṇīm: the yakṣiṇī (female spirit)
• yakṣiṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• dvāra-sthām: standing at the door
• dvāra-sthām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sthā (धातु, क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (द्वारे स्थिता) qualifying yakṣiṇīm

• upavāsa-kṛt: one who observes a fast
• upavāsa-kṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृ धातु, कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘one who performs fasting’

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having worshipped’

• āśayet: should seat/feed
• āśayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śī (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; causative sense ‘should cause to sit/feed’ in context

• viprān: brāhmaṇas
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• mahā-pātaka-śāntaye: for the pacification of great sins
• mahā-pātaka-śāntaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक) + śānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महापातकस्य शान्तिः)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Yakshini
• Vipra (Brahmana)

FAQs

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

It presents a prayāścitta-oriented ritual sequence—fasting, purification by bathing, worship, and brahmana-feeding—as a dharmic means for mahāpātaka-śānti, emphasizing inner restraint (upavāsa) and outward restitution through honoring the worthy.

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

Bhakti is implied through abhyarcana (devotional worship) and reverent service: worship is completed not only by offerings to the divine but also by honoring vipras/guests, treating service (sevā) as an extension of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style vidhi) is foregrounded: the ordered steps of upavāsa (vow), snāna (purificatory bath), arcana (worship), and vipra-bhojana (feeding brāhmaṇas) show applied dharma-ritual discipline rather than a technical grammar/astrology teaching.