Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

मत्स्योदरी तृतीया च एतास्तिस्रतु पुण्यदाः । मंदाकिनी तत्र पुण्या मध्यमेश्वरसंस्थिता ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

matsyodarī tṛtīyā ca etāstisratu puṇyadāḥ | maṃdākinī tatra puṇyā madhyameśvarasaṃsthitā || 30 ||

Translation

മൂന്നാമത്തേത് മത്സ്യോദരീ—ഈ മൂന്നും പുണ്യദായിനികളാണ്. അവിടെ മന്ദാകിനിയും പവിത്രമാണ്; അത് മധ്യമേശ്വര സന്നിധിയിൽ സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്നു।

Word by Word

• मत्स्य-उदरी: Matsyodarī (name of a river)
• मत्स्य-उदरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उदरिन्/उदरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ('she whose belly is like a fish'/fish-bellied—river-name); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तृतीया: the third
• तृतीया: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'मत्स्योदरी' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/Conjunction)

• एताः: these
• एताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'एताः'/'नद्यः' इत्यर्थे विशेषण

• तु: indeed
• तु: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण particle)

• पुण्य-दाः: bestowing merit
• पुण्य-दाः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त; दा धातु + क्विप्/अ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('givers of merit'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'एताः' इत्यस्य विधेयविशेषण

• मन्दाकिनी: Mandākinī
• मन्दाकिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक adverb)

• पुण्या: holy/meritorious
• पुण्या: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'मन्दाकिनी' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मध्यम-ईश्वर-संस्थिता: situated at Madhyameśvara
• मध्यम-ईश्वर-संस्थिता: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थित (कृदन्त; सम् + स्था धातु + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('situated at/with Madhyameśvara'); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'मन्दाकिनी' इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Suta (narrating the tirtha-mahatmya as transmitted in the Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Matsyodari
• Mandakini
• Madhyameshvara

FAQs

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

It identifies specific sacred waters as “puṇya-dāḥ” (merit-giving), teaching that contact with recognized tirtha streams—especially those connected to a deity’s shrine—supports dharma and spiritual purification.

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

Bhakti is implied through tirtha reverence: honoring Mandākinī and visiting Madhyameśvara cultivates devotion via pilgrimage, remembrance of the deity at the site, and faith in sanctifying grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/Smārta practice) is implied: the verse functions as a tirtha-pramāṇa for where snāna and related rites are considered meritorious within the Purāṇic tradition.