Shloka 51

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

Devanagari script

त्वां पश्यन् निजकर्मस्थं कोऽपि दोषो न तस्य वै । मया पृष्टः कथं नाम कन्येयं समुपाहृता ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

tvāṃ paśyan nijakarmasthaṃ ko'pi doṣo na tasya vai | mayā pṛṣṭaḥ kathaṃ nāma kanyeyaṃ samupāhṛtā || 51 ||

Translation

ਤੈਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਿਯਤ ਕਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਟਿਕਿਆ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੱਚਮੁੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਦੋਸ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ। ਫਿਰ ਵੀ ਮੈਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ—“ਇਹ ਕੁੜੀ ਕਿਹੜੇ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਇੱਥੇ ਲਿਆਂਦੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ?”

Word by Word

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• paśyan: seeing
• paśyan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश् धातु) → paśyat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with implied subject (‘I/one seeing you’)

• nija-karma-stham: standing in your own duty/work
• nija-karma-stham: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √sthā)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies tvām

• kaḥ: who/what (any)
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (interrogative)

• api: even/any
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• doṣaḥ: fault
• doṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartr̥-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• pṛṣṭaḥ: was asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (प्रच्छ् धातु) → pṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘(he) was asked’

• katham: how
• katham: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय)

• nāma: indeed/then
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/interrogative particle (निपात)

• kanyā: the maiden/daughter
• kanyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• samupāhṛtā: was brought/presented
• samupāhṛtā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√hṛ (हृ धातु) → upāhṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with kanyā

Speaker

Narada (narrating/asking within the dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vicara (reflective inquiry)

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharmic discernment: when a person is seen established in proper duty (nija-karma), blame (doṣa) should not be hastily assigned, yet truthful inquiry into circumstances remains appropriate.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti-based ethics: devotion is not separate from dharma—one should be charitable in judgment, avoid needless accusation, and still seek clarity through honest questioning in a tirtha-mahatmya setting.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa-style precision in meaning is relevant: terms like doṣa (fault), nija-karma-stha (established in one’s duty), and samupāhṛtā (brought/presented) guide correct interpretation of action and intent in narrative and ritual contexts.