Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

शंभो त्वया कृतं पापं यच्चिन्नं ब्रह्मणः शिरः । तत्फलं भुंक्ष्व संर्वज्ञ कियत्कालं कृतं स्वयम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

śaṃbho tvayā kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ yaccinnaṃ brahmaṇaḥ śiraḥ | tatphalaṃ bhuṃkṣva saṃrvajña kiyatkālaṃ kṛtaṃ svayam || 17 ||

Translation

ಹೇ ಶಂಭೋ! ನೀನು ಮಾಡಿದ ಪಾಪ—ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನ ಶಿರಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಛೇದಿಸಿದುದು—ಅದರ ಫಲವನ್ನು, ಹೇ ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞ, ನೀನೇ ನಿಶ್ಚಯಿಸಿದಷ್ಟು ಕಾಲ ನೀನೇ ಅನುಭವಿಸು।

Word by Word

• शम्भो: O Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th) एकवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd) एकवचन; करण

• कृतम्: done / committed
• कृतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; here predicate with ‘पापम्’ (done/committed)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st) एकवचन (predicate nominative)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• छिन्नम्: cut off
• छिन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (छिद्-धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (of शिरः)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; here object of ‘छिन्नम्’ clause

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; विशेषण (of फलम्)

• फलम्: result / fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• भुङ्क्ष्व: enjoy / undergo
• भुङ्क्ष्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (भुङ्क्ष्व)

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सर्वं जानाति इति; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th) एकवचन

• कियत्: how much
• कियत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कियत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; विशेषण (of कालम्)

• कालम्: time / duration
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• कृतम्: done / ordained
• कृतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; here with implied ‘(एतत्) कृतम्’ = ordained/done

• स्वयम्: by oneself / personally
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb; reflexive ‘oneself’)

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (narrative voice addressing Śiva as Śambhu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śambhu)
• Brahma (Brahmā)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the impartial law of karma: even exalted beings are shown as bound to experience the results of actions, reinforcing dharma and moral accountability.

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

By underscoring karmic consequence, it indirectly supports bhakti as a purifying path: devotion is not a license to ignore dharma, but a means to seek purification and right conduct alongside reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly teaches dharma and karma-vipāka rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it aligns with Dharmaśāstra-style reasoning about action, consequence, and the need for prāyaścitta (expiatory discipline).