Shloka 12

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

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

आद्यं ब्रह्मसरः पुण्यं तत्र स्थाने समुद्गतम् । ततो रामह्रदो जातः कुरुक्षेत्रं ततः परम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

ādyaṃ brahmasaraḥ puṇyaṃ tatra sthāne samudgatam | tato rāmahrado jātaḥ kurukṣetraṃ tataḥ param || 12 ||

Translation

ପ୍ରଥମେ ସେହି ସ୍ଥାନରେ ପୁଣ୍ୟ ବ୍ରହ୍ମସର ଉଦ୍ଭବ ହେଲା; ତାହାଠାରୁ ରାମହ୍ରଦ ନାମକ ସରୋବର ଜନ୍ମିଲା; ତାପରେ ପରମ ପୁଣ୍ୟକ୍ଷେତ୍ର କୁରୁକ୍ଷେତ୍ର ପ୍ରକଟ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• आद्यम्: first, primordial
• आद्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ब्रह्मसरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• ब्रह्मसरः: Brahma-lake
• ब्रह्मसरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘ब्रह्मणः सरः’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुण्यम्: holy, meritorious
• पुण्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ब्रह्मसरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• स्थाने: in that place
• स्थाने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• समुद्गतम्: arisen, emerged
• समुद्गतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ब्रह्मसरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-गम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग: सम् + उद्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• ततः: from there; then
• ततः: अपादान/क्रम (Source/Sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अपादानार्थक/क्रमवाचक (from there; then)

• रामह्रदः: Rāma-pond
• रामह्रदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘रामस्य ह्रदः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जातः: was born, arose
• जातः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; ‘(अभवत्)’ इति अध्याहार्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: क्रम (Sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रमवाचक (then/thereafter)

• परम्: next; further
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of implied event/sequence)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (as ‘next/further’)

Speaker

Narada (describing the tirtha-sequence within Kurukshetra-mahatmya, traditionally narrated in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta (wonder)","secondary_rasa":"shanta (peace)","emotional_journey":"Mythic unfolding: sacred waters arise in sequence (Brahma-saras → Rāma-hrada → Kurukṣetra), ending in a sense of supreme sanctity."}

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Rama-hrada
• Kurukshetra

FAQs

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

It establishes a sacred hierarchy and origin-sequence of Kurukshetra’s tirthas—Brahma-saras first, then Rāma-hrada, culminating in Kurukshetra—implying that contact with these sites generates puṇya and supports dharmic purification.

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

Though primarily a tirtha-mahatmya verse, it supports bhakti indirectly by guiding devotees to sanctified places where remembrance of divine and cosmic origins (Brahma, sacred kṣetra) strengthens श्रद्धा (faith) and devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied dharma and ritual geography (kṣetra–tirtha classification used in pilgrimage and स्नान-vidhi contexts), rather than a technical Vedanga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.