Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

परिवेत्ता च दिधिषूः शन्तनुः स्वःसरित्पत्तिः । दिधिषू तनयः साक्षाद्वसुः स्त्रीवादमृत्युभाक् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

parivettā ca didhiṣūḥ śantanuḥ svaḥsaritpattiḥ | didhiṣū tanayaḥ sākṣādvasuḥ strīvādamṛtyubhāk || 33 ||

Translation

परिवेत्ता च दिधिषूश्चोक्तौ; शन्तनुश्च स्वःसरित्पत्तिः। दिधिषोस्तनयः साक्षाद्वसुरेव, स्त्रीवादेन मृत्युभाक्॥

Word by Word

परिवेत्ताthe one who marries before (an elder brother)

चand

दिधिषूःone who desires to marry (a widow/another’s wife)

शन्तनुःŚantanu

स्वःसरित्पत्तिःhusband of the heavenly river (Gaṅgā)

दिधिषूthe didhiṣu (desirer to marry)

तनयःson

साक्षात्directly, manifestly

वसुःa Vasu (divine being)

स्त्रीवादमृत्युभाक्one who meets death due to talk of women (woman-related speech)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana to the assembled sages, within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

Shantanu

Ganga

Vasus

FAQs

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

It uses Itihasa-linked genealogy (Śantanu–Gaṅgā–Vasu) to underline karmic causality: social transgression and passion-driven conflict (especially around relationships) lead to suffering, while dharma-aligned conduct supports auspicious outcomes.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts worldly entanglement (marital rivalry and disputes) with the puranic ideal: reducing rāga-dveṣa and living by dharma makes the mind fit for steady remembrance of Bhagavān, which is the foundation of Vishnu-bhakti emphasized throughout the Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Nirukta/Vyākaraṇa-style technical labeling is used (e.g., parivettā, didhiṣū) to classify social situations precisely—showing how dharma discourse relies on accurate terminology and definition-based reasoning.