Shloka 18

Kāmodākhyāna

Glory of the Kāmodā Sacred Place

Devanagari script

गंगाद्वारादुपरि च दशयोजनके स्थितम् । कामोदं तत्र वर्षैकं यो जपेद्द्वादशाक्षरम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgādvārādupari ca daśayojanake sthitam | kāmodaṃ tatra varṣaikaṃ yo japeddvādaśākṣaram || 18 ||

Translation

ಗಂಗಾದ್ವಾರದ ಮೇಲ್ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಹತ್ತು ಯೋಜನ ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ‘ಕಾಮೋದ’ ಎಂಬ ತೀರ್ಥವಿದೆ. ಯಾರು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷ ವಾಸಿಸಿ ದ್ವಾದಶಾಕ್ಷರ ಮಂತ್ರವನ್ನು ಜಪಿಸುತ್ತಾನೋ, ಅವನು ಇಷ್ಟಾರ್ಥಸಿದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ।

Word by Word

• गङ्गा-द्वारात्: from Gaṅgā-dvāra
• गङ्गा-द्वारात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; ‘गङ्गायाः द्वारम्’ (Gaṅgā-dvāra) + -त्

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (adverb/postposition: ‘above/upwards’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• दश-योजनके: at (a place) ten yojanas (away/above)
• दश-योजनके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + योजनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास — ‘दश योजनानि यस्मिन्’

• स्थितम्: situated
• स्थितम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण/descriptor)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — ‘situated’ (agreeing with implied ‘स्थानम्/कāmodam’ contextually)

• कामोदम्: (the place) Kāmoda
• कामोदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; (स्थान/तीर्थ/क्षेत्रनाम)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• वर्ष-एकम्: for one year
• वर्ष-एकम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगुसमास — ‘एकं वर्षम्’ (for one year)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्वादश-अक्षरम्: the twelve-syllable (mantra)
• द्वादश-अक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगुसमास — ‘द्वादश अक्षराणि यस्य’ (twelve-syllabled [mantra])

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Gaṅgādvāra
• Vishnu
• Vāsudeva

FAQs

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

It links tirtha-sevā (residing at a holy place) with disciplined mantra-japa, teaching that sustained devotion—especially the dvādaśākṣarī of Vāsudeva—ripens into siddhi (attainment of desired and spiritually beneficial aims).

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

Bhakti is shown as steady remembrance of Vishnu through japa, supported by sacred geography (Gaṅgā region). The one-year commitment emphasizes niṣṭhā (firmness) rather than momentary worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical discipline is mantra-japa with a defined count/structure (“twelve-syllabled”), reflecting correct mantra-prayoga (application). While not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it implies careful phonetic integrity (Śikṣā) and proper recitation practice.