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Shloka 51

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

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

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

त्वां निजकर्मस्थं पश्यन् तस्य वै दोषो न कश्चन। मया पृष्टः—केन नाम एषा कन्या समुपाहृता?॥

tvāmyou
tvām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormSecond person pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
paśyanseeing
paśyan:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√paś (पश् धातु) → paśyat (कृदन्त)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with implied subject (‘I/one seeing you’)
nija-karma-sthamstanding in your own duty/work
nija-karma-stham:
Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnija (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √sthā)
FormTatpuruṣa; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies tvām
kaḥwho/what (any)
kaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (interrogative)
apieven/any
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात), concessive/emphatic
doṣaḥfault
doṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
tasyaof him/of that
tasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
vaiindeed
vai:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvai (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (निपात)
mayāby me
mayā:
Kartr̥-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormInstrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
pṛṣṭaḥwas asked
pṛṣṭaḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√prach (प्रच्छ् धातु) → pṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
FormPast passive participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘(he) was asked’
kathamhow
katham:
Prakāra (प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkatham (अव्यय)
FormInterrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय)
nāmaindeed/then
nāma:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnāma (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic/interrogative particle (निपात)
kanyāthe maiden/daughter
kanyā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
iyamthis
iyam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
samupāhṛtāwas brought/presented
samupāhṛtā:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-upa-√hṛ (हृ धातु) → upāhṛta (कृदन्त)
FormPast passive participle (क्त); Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with kanyā

Narada (narrating/asking within the dialogue)

Vrata: none

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"vicara (reflective inquiry)","emotional_journey":"From a charitable judgment (‘no fault’) based on seeing one’s proper duty, to a probing question about the means by which the maiden was brought."}

N
Narada

FAQs

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.

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.

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.