Shloka 22

The Greatness of Kāśī (Avimukta): Pilgrimage Calendar, Yātrā-Dharma, and the Network of Śiva-Liṅgas

Devanagari script

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि चंडिकाः क्षेत्ररक्षिकाः । दक्षिणे रक्षते दुर्गा नैर्ऋते चांतरेश्वरी ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi caṃḍikāḥ kṣetrarakṣikāḥ | dakṣiṇe rakṣate durgā nairṛte cāṃtareśvarī || 22 ||

Translation

ഇനി ഞാൻ ക്ഷേത്രരക്ഷികയായ ചണ്ഡികമാരെ പറയുന്നു—തെക്കിൽ ദുർഗ്ഗ രക്ഷിക്കുന്നു; നൈഋത്യത്തിൽ അന്തരേശ്വരി രക്ഷിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore/thereafter
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे प्रयुक्तम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: ‘further/next’)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• चंडिकाः: the Caṇḍikās (goddesses)
• चंडिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• क्षेत्ररक्षिकाः: guardians of the sacred place/field
• क्षेत्ररक्षिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षेत्रस्य रक्षिकाः)

• दक्षिणे: in the south
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (directional locative)

• रक्षते: protects
• रक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• दुर्गा: Durgā
• दुर्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नैर्ऋते: in the southwest
• नैर्ऋते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैर्ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (southwest direction)

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

• अन्तरेश्वरी: Antareśvarī
• अन्तरेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अन्तरस्य ईश्वरी)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Uttara-Bhaga kṣetra-māhātmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"A tone of revelation—mapping unseen protective powers onto sacred space—settling into ordered assurance of protection."}

Characters & Entities

• Caṇḍikā
• Durgā
• Antareśvarī
• Nairṛti (directional regency)

FAQs

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

It teaches that a kṣetra (holy site/temple precinct) is ritually envisioned as protected in every direction by specific Devīs; invoking them affirms sacred order (dharma) and removes obstacles to worship.

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

By naming Durgā and Antareśvarī as protectors of directions, the verse supports bhakti practice through reverent invocation (smaraṇa/arcana) of divine guardians so that devotion can proceed without fear or hindrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Directional ritual mapping—using the quarters (dik) such as Dakṣiṇa and Nairṛta for placement and invocation—reflects applied ritual science (kalpa/āgamic-kalpa style procedure) used in temple and tīrtha worship.