Shloka 26

Puruṣottama-māhātmya

The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविद्यां सकृज्ज्ञात्वा गर्भवासो न विद्यते । एवं सर्वगुणोपेतं क्षेत्रं परमदुर्लभम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

brahmavidyāṃ sakṛjjñātvā garbhavāso na vidyate | evaṃ sarvaguṇopetaṃ kṣetraṃ paramadurlabham || 26 ||

Translation

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವಿದ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಒಮ್ಮೆ ತಿಳಿದರೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಗರ್ಭವಾಸ (ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮ) ಇರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗೆ ಸರ್ವಗುಣೋಪೇತವಾದ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ದುರ್ಳಭ.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-विद्याम्: knowledge of Brahman (brahma-vidyā)
• ब्रह्म-विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: “once”)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): “having known”

• गर्भ-वासः: dwelling in the womb (rebirth in womb)
• गर्भ-वासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation: “not”)

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु; ‘to be/exist’ in Ātmanepada)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: “thus/in this way”)

• सर्व-गुण-उपेतम्: endowed with all qualities
• सर्व-गुण-उपेतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (कृदन्त; √इ ‘to go’ with उप-; ‘endowed’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Acc./Nom. 2nd/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier of क्षेत्रम्)

• क्षेत्रम्: the field/place (kṣetra)
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम-दुर्लभम्: supremely difficult to obtain
• परम-दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier of क्षेत्रम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in dialogue form)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Brahmavidyā

FAQs

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

It declares the decisive power of Brahmavidyā: true realization, even once, cuts the cycle of rebirth (symbolized by “dwelling in the womb”), and it frames such liberation-supporting kṣetras as exceptionally rare and precious.

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

While the verse speaks directly in the language of jñāna (Brahmavidyā), in the Purāṇic setting such knowledge is commonly nurtured by tīrtha-sevā, sattva, and devotion—suggesting that holy places and devotional discipline can mature the seeker toward liberating realization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is sādhanā-oriented: seek a “sarvaguṇopeta” kṣetra (a fully qualified tīrtha environment) as supportive context for śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana leading to Brahmavidyā.