Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अनुपोष्य त्रिरात्राणि तीर्थान्यप्यभिगम्य च । अदत्त्वा कांचनं गाश्च दारिद्रो जायते नरः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

anupoṣya trirātrāṇi tīrthānyapyabhigamya ca | adattvā kāṃcanaṃ gāśca dāridro jāyate naraḥ || 8 ||

Translation

മൂന്നു രാത്രികൾ ഉപവാസം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച് തീർത്ഥങ്ങൾ സന്ദർശിച്ചിട്ടും, സ്വർണ്ണവും പശുക്കളും ദാനം ചെയ്യാത്ത മനുഷ്യൻ ദാരിദ്ര്യത്തിലാകുന്നു ॥८॥

Word by Word

• अनुपोष्य: having fasted/observed austerity
• अनुपोष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-पूष्/पुष् (धातु) + त्वा/ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having observed (a fast)’

• त्रि-रात्राणि: three nights
• त्रि-रात्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि/रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास ‘three nights’

• तीर्थानि: sacred places
• तीर्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• अभिगम्य: having visited
• अभिगम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-गम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having gone to/visited’

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

• अदत्त्वा: without giving
• अदत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त) with negation अ-
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त; नञर्थक-पूर्वपद ‘अ-’ (not having given)

• काञ्चनम्: gold
• काञ्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

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

• दारिद्रः: poor, impoverished
• दारिद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘नरः’

• जायते: becomes, is born as
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

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 austerity (trirātra-upavāsa) and pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) reach completion through dāna; without giving, the intended merit is impaired and one incurs the karmic consequence of poverty.

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

Bhakti is expressed not only by visiting holy places or fasting, but by compassionate giving; dāna becomes a practical form of devotion that supports dharma and purifies the pilgrim’s intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented dharma practice) is implied: a vrata like a three-night observance is paired with prescribed gifts (kāñcana and go-dāna) as part of tīrtha-related rites, showing that correct procedure matters for results.