Shloka 39

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

Devanagari script

स्वयमेवर्षभो योगी लोकशिक्षापरो द्विजः । लोकग्लानिकरो जातः कुर्वन्धर्मानुरोधतः ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

svayamevarṣabho yogī lokaśikṣāparo dvijaḥ | lokaglānikaro jātaḥ kurvandharmānurodhataḥ || 39 ||

Translation

ຣິສະພະນັ້ນເອງ ເປັນໂຍຄີ ແລະພຣາຫມັນຜູ້ເກີດສອງຄັ້ງ ຜູ້ມຸ່ງສອນໂລກ; ພຣະອົງເກີດມາເພື່ອຂັບໄລ່ຄວາມເມື່ອຍລ້າຂອງໂລກ ແລະກະທຳທຸກຢ່າງຕາມທຳມະ.

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: by himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka Nipāta (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• ऋषभः: a bull (i.e., best/excellent one)
• ऋषभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संज्ञा/उपाधि (appositional)

• योगी: a yogin
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संज्ञा (apposition)

• लोकशिक्षापरः: devoted to instructing the world
• लोकशिक्षापरः: Karta-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + शिक्षा + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य शिक्षायां परः/‘devoted to teaching the world’); विशेषण

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ब्राह्मण/द्विज-जाति सूचक

• लोकग्लानिकरः: causing (or bringing about) the world’s decline/weariness
• लोकग्लानिकरः: Karta-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + ग्लानि + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य ग्लानिं करोति/‘causing the world’s weariness/decline’); विशेषण

• जातः: born/arisen
• जातः: Karta-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) + जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘born/come into being’—कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण

• कुर्वन्: doing/performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियासमानाधिकरण (doing...)

• धर्मानुरोधतः: in accordance with dharma
• धर्मानुरोधतः: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन-अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्म + अनुरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ततः/‘according to’ sense); ‘धर्मानुरोधतः’ = धर्मस्य अनुरोधात्/धर्मानुसारतः (adverbial)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within Uttara-Bhaga; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rishabha

FAQs

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

It presents Ṛṣabha as an exemplar who incarnates/appears for loka-śikṣā—guiding society by living dharma—thereby relieving the world’s moral fatigue (glāni) through righteous example.

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

While bhakti is not named directly, the verse emphasizes dharmānurodha—acting in alignment with sacred order—which is foundational to bhakti-oriented life in the Narada Purana: devotion expressed as disciplined, world-benefiting conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The key practical principle is śikṣā in the broad sense of instruction and discipline (loka-śikṣā): teaching correct conduct and dharmic norms, rather than a technical rule of grammar or ritual procedure in this specific line.