Shloka 31

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

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

वनानां चापि तीर्थानां सरितामपि मोहिनि । यो नरः कुरुते यात्रां कुरुक्षेत्रस्य पुण्यदाम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

vanānāṃ cāpi tīrthānāṃ saritāmapi mohini | yo naraḥ kurute yātrāṃ kurukṣetrasya puṇyadām || 31 ||

Translation

ໂອ ນາງຜູ້ຊັກຊວນໃຈ (ໂມຫິນີ) ເອີຍ, ຜູ້ໃດກໍຕາມທີ່ເຮັດການຈາລິກໄປກຸຣຸເກດຕຣະ ອັນເປັນຜູ້ປະທານບຸນ, ຜູ້ນັ້ນຍ່ອມໄດ້ຜົນບຸນເທົ່າກັບການໄປຫາປ່າສັກສິດ, ຕີຣຖະສັກສິດ, ແລະ ແມ່ນ້ຳສັກສິດທັງຫຼາຍດ້ວຍ.

Word by Word

• वनानाम्: of forests
• वनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय; ‘also/even’

• तीर्थानाम्: of pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• सरिताम्: of rivers
• सरिताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय; ‘also’

• मोहिनि: O Mohinī (enchantress)
• मोहिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन

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

• नरः: man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• कुरुते: does/performs
• कुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), आत्मनेपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यात्राम्: pilgrimage/journey
• यात्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कुरुक्षेत्रस्य: of Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पुण्यदाम्: bestowing merit
• पुण्यदाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of ‘यात्राम्’; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘पुण्यं ददाति’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; verse addresses a feminine interlocutor as 'Mohini')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Wonder at the comprehensive merit of Kurukṣetra-yātrā, moving from address to assurance of vast spiritual gain."}

Characters & Entities

• Kurukṣetra

FAQs

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

It declares Kurukṣetra-yātrā as a concentrated source of puṇya, equating its pilgrimage-fruit with that of visiting multiple sacred forests, tīrthas, and rivers.

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

By praising tīrtha-yātrā, it supports bhakti through embodied practice—seeking sacred places that intensify remembrance, reverence, and dharma, which traditionally culminate in devotion to the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-oriented practice is implied: the regulated act of yātrā (pilgrimage as a dharmic observance) and its stated puṇya-phala, central to Purāṇic ritual guidance.