Shloka 14

Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha

Devanagari script

धर्म एव स्वरूपेण महापातकनाशनः । धूली च धूतपापा सा सर्वतीर्थमयी शुभा ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

dharma eva svarūpeṇa mahāpātakanāśanaḥ | dhūlī ca dhūtapāpā sā sarvatīrthamayī śubhā || 14 ||

Translation

Dharma, menurut hakikatnya sendiri, memusnahkan dosa-dosa besar. Dan debu suci itu juga—setelah menggugurkan dosa—menjadi berkat, mengandungi pahala semua tempat ziarah suci di dalamnya.

Word by Word

• dharmaḥ: Dharma / righteousness
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक निपात)

• sva-rūpeṇa: by its own form
• sva-rūpeṇa: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष ‘by (his/its) own form/nature’

• mahā-pātaka-nāśanaḥ: destroyer of great sins
• mahā-pātaka-nāśanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of dharmaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष ‘destroyer of great sins’

• dhūlī: dust
• dhūlī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūlī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• dhūta-pāpā: with sins removed
• dhūta-pāpā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of dhūlī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhū (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त) → dhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि ‘whose sins are washed off/removed’ (धूतानि पापानि यस्याः) qualifying dhūlī

• sā: that (she/it)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• sarva-tīrtha-mayī: containing all sacred fords
• sarva-tīrtha-mayī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of sā/dhūlī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष ‘consisting of/filled with all tīrthas’

• śubhā: auspicious
• śubhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework; Uttara-Bhaga tirtha discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that Dharma is intrinsically purifying—capable of destroying even mahāpātakas—and that contact with sanctified “dust” associated with holy places/saintly presence is treated as carrying tīrtha-power, making it an auspicious means of inner cleansing.

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

By valuing sanctity embodied in holy places and what is connected to them (like sacred dust), the verse supports bhakti culture: reverence, humility, and seeking purification through association with the sacred—practices that nourish devotion and ethical living (dharma).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse aligns with Dharmaśāstra/prāyaścitta logic used in ritual life: purification is linked to right conduct (dharma) and tīrtha-association; it’s practical guidance for pilgrimage etiquette and ritual purity rather than a technical lesson in Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa/Jyotiṣa.