Shloka 24

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

अटित्वा द्वादशाब्दानि तीर्थेषु सकलेषु च । प्रक्षालयन्करं वामं भिक्षां गृह्णन्कपालके ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

aṭitvā dvādaśābdāni tīrtheṣu sakaleṣu ca | prakṣālayankaraṃ vāmaṃ bhikṣāṃ gṛhṇankapālake || 24 ||

Translation

പന്ത്രണ്ടു വർഷം എല്ലാ തീർത്ഥങ്ങളിലും സഞ്ചരിച്ച്, ഇടത് കൈ കഴുകിക്കൊണ്ട്, കപാലപാത്രത്തിൽ ഭിക്ഷ സ്വീകരിക്കുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अटित्वा: having wandered
• अटित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अट् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having wandered’

• द्वादशाब्दानि: twelve years
• द्वादशाब्दानि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time-extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण

• तीर्थेषु: in sacred places
• तीर्थेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• सकलेषु: in all (of them)
• सकलेषु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; विशेषण of तीर्थेषु

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रक्षालयन्: washing
• प्रक्षालयन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘washing’ (while doing)

• करम्: hand
• करम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• वामम्: left
• वामम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of करम्

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गृह्णन्: accepting
• गृह्णन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘taking/accepting’

• कपालके: in the skull-bowl
• कपालके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in/with the skull-bowl’ (locative of receptacle)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights a rigorous ascetic model: long-term pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) combined with renunciant discipline (bhikṣā and minimal possessions), implying purification through sustained tapas rather than mere travel.

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

By portraying humility and dependence on alms, it supports the inner attitude essential for bhakti—ego-reduction and single-minded spiritual intent—while moving among tīrthas associated with divine presence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ācāra (ritual-conduct) principles: regulated bhikṣā practice, purity through washing (śauca), and prescribed ascetic markers (kapāla), all treated as dharmic observances rather than casual behavior.