Shloka 2
Plakṣaprasravaṇa–Kārapacana tīrtha-varṇana and Nārada’s war briefing (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 53)
पुरा च राजर्षिवरेण धीमता बहूनि वर्षाण्यमितेन तेजसा । प्रकृष्टमेतत् कुरुणा महात्मना ततः कुरुक्षेत्रमितीह पप्रथे,पहले अमित तेजस्वी बुद्धिमान् राजर्षिप्रवर महात्मा कुरुने इस क्षेत्रको बहुत वर्षोतक जोता था, इसलिये इस जगतमें इसका नाम कुरक्षेत्र प्रसिद्ध हो गया
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
purā ca rājarṣivareṇa dhīmatā bahūni varṣāṇy amitena tejasā |
prakṛṣṭam etat kuruṇā mahātmanā tataḥ kurukṣetram itīha paprathe ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Pada zaman dahulu, tanah ini telah diusahakan dengan sebaik-baiknya selama bertahun-tahun oleh Kuru yang berhati agung—terunggul antara para raja resi, bijaksana, dan memiliki sinar keagungan yang tidak terukur. Oleh sebab itu, di dunia ini ia menjadi masyhur dengan nama “Kurukṣetra” (Medan Kuru).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links a place’s sanctity and fame to sustained righteous effort: Kurukṣetra is revered because a virtuous king-sage, Kuru, labored there for years, implying that dharmic action can consecrate land and memory.
Vaiśampāyana explains the origin of the name “Kurukṣetra,” stating that in ancient times King Kuru cultivated and developed this region for many years, and thus it became widely known by that name.