Shloka 17

The Determination of the Extent of the Sacred Field and Related Matters

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

रामतीर्थं ततः ख्यातं संजातं पापनाशनम् । मार्कंडेयेन मुनिना संतप्तं परमं तपः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

rāmatīrthaṃ tataḥ khyātaṃ saṃjātaṃ pāpanāśanam | mārkaṃḍeyena muninā saṃtaptaṃ paramaṃ tapaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

त्यानंतर ते तीर्थ ‘रामतीर्थ’ म्हणून प्रसिद्ध झाले आणि पापनाशक ठरले. तेथे मुनी मार्कंडेयांनी परम, अत्यंत कठोर तप केले॥ १७ ॥

Word by Word

• रामतीर्थम्: Rāma-tīrtha (pilgrimage place)
• रामतीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रामस्य तीर्थम् = Rāma’s ford/pilgrimage-place); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter/then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त अव्यय (thereafter/from that)

• ख्यातम्: renowned/called
• ख्यातम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) → ख्यात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with रामतीर्थम्)

• संजातम्: arisen/come into being
• संजातम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-जन् (धातु) → संजात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पापनाशनम्: sin-destroying
• पापनाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पापस्य नाशनम् = destroyer of sin); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as epithet of रामतीर्थम्)

• मार्कंडेयेन: by Mārkaṇḍeya
• मार्कंडेयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• संतप्तम्: was undertaken (as penance)
• संतप्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-तप् (धातु) → संतप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘was performed (as austerity)’

• परमम्: supreme/great
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with तपः)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in a Tirtha-Mahatmya narration within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Peaceful assurance that the tīrtha destroys sin, deepening into devotional reverence through the exemplar of Mārkaṇḍeya’s supreme tapas."}

Characters & Entities

• Markandeya
• Rama-tirtha

FAQs

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

It presents Rāma-tīrtha as a pāpanāśana (sin-destroying) pilgrimage site and grounds its sanctity in the exemplary tapas of Mārkaṇḍeya, showing how a tīrtha’s fame is tied to realized sages and purification.

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

Though it does not explicitly teach bhakti, it supports bhakti-practice indirectly: tīrtha-yātrā and remembrance of holy places associated with great sages purify the heart, preparing the devotee for steadier devotion and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma of tīrtha-sevā—pilgrimage for purification and honoring sites sanctified by tapas.