Shloka 12

Puruṣottama-māhātmya

The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra

Devanagari script

दशयोजनविस्तीर्णं क्षेत्रंम परमदुर्लभम् । नक्षत्राणां यथा सोमः सरसां सागरो यथा ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

daśayojanavistīrṇaṃ kṣetraṃma paramadurlabham | nakṣatrāṇāṃ yathā somaḥ sarasāṃ sāgaro yathā || 12 ||

Translation

Wilayah suci seluas sepuluh yojana amat sukar diperoleh; sebagaimana Soma (Bulan) paling utama antara gugusan bintang, dan sebagaimana lautan paling utama antara segala perairan.

Word by Word

• daśa-yojana-vistīrṇam: spread over ten yojanas
• daśa-yojana-vistīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + yojana (प्रातिपदिक) + vistīrṇa (कृदन्त; √stṛ/स्तॄ)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दशयोजनम् = दश योजने, तेन विस्तीर्णम्)

• kṣetram: the sacred field/place
• kṣetram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parama-durlabham: most difficult to obtain
• parama-durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—परमं च तत् दुर्लभं च

• nakṣatrāṇām: of the stars
• nakṣatrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle/adverb (उपमा-अव्यय)

• somaḥ: the Moon
• somaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarasām: of the lakes
• sarasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sāgaraḥ: the ocean
• sāgaraḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle/adverb (उपमा-अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Tirtha-Mahatmya section of the Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Sagara

FAQs

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

It proclaims the extraordinary rarity and pre-eminence of a particular tīrtha-kṣetra, using “best-of” comparisons (Moon among nakṣatras, ocean among waters) to mark it as a supreme source of puṇya and spiritual uplift through pilgrimage and reverence.

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

By emphasizing the greatness of a sacred kṣetra, the verse supports bhakti in practice: approaching a holy place with faith, humility, and remembrance of the Divine is presented as an accessible, embodied way to intensify devotion and receive grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It alludes to Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) through the mention of nakṣatras and Soma (the Moon), reflecting the lunar framework used for ritual timing, vrata observance, and sacred calendrical reckoning.