Shloka 5

The Greatness of Haridvāra

Gaṅgādvāra-māhātmya

Devanagari script

यत्रायजत यज्ञेशं पुरा दक्षः प्रजापतिः । तत्क्षेत्रं पुण्यदं नॄणां सर्वपातकनाशनम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

yatrāyajata yajñeśaṃ purā dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ | tatkṣetraṃ puṇyadaṃ nṝṇāṃ sarvapātakanāśanam || 5 ||

Translation

എവിടെ പുരാതനകാലത്ത് പ്രജാപതി ദക്ഷൻ യജ്ഞേശ്വരനെ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ച് യാഗം നടത്തി, ആ ക്ഷേത്രം മനുഷ്യർക്കു പുണ്യദായകവും സർവ്വപാപനാശകവും ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• आयजत: worshipped/sacrificed to
• आयजत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√यज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• यज्ञेशम्: the Lord of sacrifice
• यज्ञेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: यज्ञस्य ईशः (lord of sacrifice)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• दक्षः: Dakṣa
• दक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजापतिः: the Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: प्रजायाः पतिः (lord of creatures); apposition to दक्षः

• तत्-क्षेत्रम्: that sacred place/field
• तत्-क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: तत् एव क्षेत्रम् (that very sacred field)

• पुण्यदम्: bestowing merit
• पुण्यदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्यद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: पुण्यं ददाति (giving merit)

• नॄणाम्: of men/people
• नॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्व-पातक-नाशनम्: destroying all sins
• सर्व-पातक-नाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषां पातकानां नाशनम् (destroyer of all sins)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Tirtha-Mahatmya dialogue in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Daksha Prajapati
• Yajnesha

FAQs

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

It identifies a specific kṣetra as exceptionally purifying because it is sanctified by Dakṣa’s ancient yajña to Yajñeśa, declaring the place a giver of puṇya and a destroyer of sins.

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

By centering the holiness of the place on worship offered to the divine “Lord of Sacrifice,” it implies that devotion expressed through reverent worship (yajña/arcana) and pilgrimage to such a kṣetra supports inner purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is emphasized: the verse presumes knowledge of yajña procedure and sacred-site efficacy (kalpa/śrauta-smārta practice), where proper worship and kṣetra-sevā are linked to puṇya and pāpa-kṣaya.