Shloka 53

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

स जीवत्पितृको यस्तु तीर्थं प्राप्य विधानवित् । क्षौरं समाचरेन्नैव श्मश्रूणां वपनं सति ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

sa jīvatpitṛko yastu tīrthaṃ prāpya vidhānavit | kṣauraṃ samācarennaiva śmaśrūṇāṃ vapanaṃ sati || 53 ||

Translation

പിതാവ് ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നവൻ, വിധി അറിയുന്നവനായാലും തീർത്ഥത്തിലെത്തി ക്ഷൗരകർമ്മം ചെയ്യരുത്; അവിടെ താടി-മീശയും വടിക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जीवत्-पितृकः: one whose father(s) are alive
• जीवत्-पितृकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवत् (कृदन्त; √जीव्) + पितृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि: यस्य पितरः जीवतः (one whose father(s) are alive)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — विशेषार्थ (indeed/but)

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford/place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः: having reached

• विधान-वित्: knower of the prescribed rule
• विधान-वित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) → वित् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: विधानं वेत्ति इति (knower of the rule/rite)

• क्षौरम्: shaving (rite)
• क्षौरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• एव: at all / indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — अवधारण (only/indeed)

• श्मश्रूणाम्: of the beard/moustache hairs
• श्मश्रूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वपनम्: shaving / cutting
• वपनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सति: when (it is the case)
• सति: Sattva-adhikarana (सत्त्वाधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन (Locative sg.) of ‘सत्’ used as अव्यय (locative absolute marker): ‘when/while being (the case)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It teaches that tīrtha practices must follow dharma and family-status rules; certain acts like ritual shaving are context-sensitive and should not be done when one’s father is living.

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

Bhakti is expressed through disciplined obedience to prescribed conduct (ācāra) at holy places; devotion is not merely emotion but correct, respectful practice aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual procedure (vidhāna) is implied—knowing the rules of rites (like kṣaura) and their eligibility conditions during tīrtha-yātrā.