Shloka 23

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

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मवेद्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे ये मृतास्तेऽपुनर्भवाः । ग्रहनक्षत्रताराणां कालेन पतनाद्भयम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

brahmavedyāṃ kurukṣetre ye mṛtāste'punarbhavāḥ | grahanakṣatratārāṇāṃ kālena patanādbhayam || 23 ||

Translation

ବ୍ରହ୍ମବେଦ୍ୟା ନାମେ ପବିତ୍ର କୁରୁକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ଯେ ଦେହ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ପୁନର୍ଜନ୍ମ ପାଆନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ। ଗ୍ରହ, ନକ୍ଷତ୍ର ଓ ତାରାମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ କାଳକ୍ରମେ ପତନଭୟରେ ରହନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मवेद्याम्: in (the place) knowable/known by Brahman
• ब्रह्मवेद्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-वेद्य (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + वेद्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative) — ‘in the Brahma-knowable (place)’

• कुरुक्षेत्रे: in Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण — ‘in Kurukṣetra’

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध/निर्देश — relative pronoun ‘those who’

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त; √मृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक विशेषण — ‘dead’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनुवादक सर्वनाम — ‘they’

• अपुनर्भवाः: free from rebirth
• अपुनर्भवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपुनर्भव (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + पुनर्भव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण — ‘not having rebirth’

• ग्रह-नक्षत्र-ताराणाम्: of planets, constellations, and stars
• ग्रह-नक्षत्र-ताराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह + नक्षत्र + तारा (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (तारा-प्रधान), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध — ‘of planets, lunar mansions, and stars’

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण — ‘by/with time’

• पतनात्: from falling/decline
• पतनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतन (प्रातिपदिक; √पत् (धातु) + अन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान — ‘from falling/decline’

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भाववाचक — ‘fear’ (elliptical: ‘there is fear’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Kurukṣetra-māhātmya section; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumāra lineage implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Kurukṣetra
• Brahmavedyā
• Kāla

FAQs

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

It praises Kurukṣetra as a supreme tīrtha (Brahmavedyā) where death is said to culminate in apunarbhava—release from the cycle of rebirth—highlighting the extraordinary salvific power of sacred geography (kṣetra-māhātmya).

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports the bhakti-oriented Purāṇic view that surrender and sacred association—such as residing, worshipping, and ultimately departing in a holy kṣetra—can carry the soul toward liberation beyond ordinary karmic return.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It alludes to Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) through graha, nakṣatra, and tārā, teaching a practical takeaway: even cosmic bodies are time-bound under Kāla, so one should prioritize dharma and tīrtha-based sādhana over reliance on astrological permanence.