Shloka 19

The Determination of the Extent of the Sacred Field and Related Matters

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

सरः संनिहितं प्लाव्यं पश्चिमां प्रस्थितां दिशम् । कुरुणा तु ततः कृष्टं यावत्क्षेत्रं समंततः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

saraḥ saṃnihitaṃ plāvyaṃ paścimāṃ prasthitāṃ diśam | kuruṇā tu tataḥ kṛṣṭaṃ yāvatkṣetraṃ samaṃtataḥ || 19 ||

Translation

ນາງໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ສະຣະນ້ຳໃກ້ໆເຕັມລົ້ນ ແລ້ວໄຫຼອອກໄປທາງທິດຕາເວັນຕົກ. ຕໍ່ມາ ຊາວກຸຣຸໄດ້ໄຖນາ ແລະປູກພືດຮອບດ້ານ ຈົນສຸດເຂດນາທັງໝົດ.

Word by Word

• सरः: a lake
• सरः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• संनिहितम्: situated/nearby
• संनिहितम्: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-नि-धा/धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (सरः)

• प्लाव्यम्: to be crossed (by floating)
• प्लाव्यम्: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्लु (धातु) + ण्यत्/यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (ण्यत्/यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘प्लाव्य’ = ‘प्लावनीय/तरणीय’ (to be crossed/floated)

• पश्चिमाम्: western
• पश्चिमाम्: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (दिशम्)

• प्रस्थिताम्: leading/going toward
• प्रस्थिताम्: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (दिशम्); ‘प्रस्थित’ = ‘गता/प्रवृत्ता’

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कुरुणा: by Kuru
• कुरुणा: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrastive particle)

• ततः: from there/thereafter
• ततः: अपादान (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablative adverb)

• कृष्टम्: ploughed
• कृष्टम्: कर्म (कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘ploughed’

• यावत्-क्षेत्रम्: up to the extent of the field
• यावत्-क्षेत्रम्: कर्म (परिमाण-सीमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक ‘यावत्’ = ‘यावद्-पर्यन्तम्’

• समन्ततः: on all sides/entirely around
• समन्ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha narration style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"Calm description of waters filling a lake and flowing westward, ending in the wonder of human cultivation transforming the landscape."}

Characters & Entities

• Kuru

FAQs

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

It frames a kṣetra (sacred field) as a sanctified landscape shaped by water (sarḥ) and righteous human action (cultivation by the Kurus), implying that holy places are sustained by both natural purity and dharmic stewardship.

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

Indirectly: by presenting the kṣetra as a prepared, ordered sacred space, it supports the bhakti framework where pilgrimage, tīrtha-sevā, and worship become effective when performed in a consecrated and well-maintained environment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It most closely aligns with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and kṣetra-samskāra notions—how a site is prepared/maintained for religious activity—rather than grammar or astrology; the verse emphasizes orderly land preparation around a sacred water source.