Shloka 18

The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power

Devanagari script

द्वियोजनमथार्द्धं च पूर्वपश्चिमतः स्थितम् । अर्द्धयोजनविस्तीर्णं दक्षिणोत्तरतः स्मृतम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

dviyojanamathārddhaṃ ca pūrvapaścimataḥ sthitam | arddhayojanavistīrṇaṃ dakṣiṇottarataḥ smṛtam || 18 ||

Translation

पूर्वपश्चिमतः स्थितं तस्य प्रमाणं द्वियोजनमथार्द्धं; दक्षिणोत्तरतोऽर्द्धयोजनविस्तीर्णं स्मृतम्।

Word by Word

• द्वि-योजनम्: two yojanas (in extent)
• द्वि-योजनम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Measure term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वक)

• अथ: then, moreover
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/वाक्यारम्भक (particle)

• अर्द्धम्: a half
• अर्द्धम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Additional measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पूर्व-पश्चिमतः: from east to west (east–west-wise)
• पूर्व-पश्चिमतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Directional specification)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व + पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; द्वन्द्वसमासः (पूर्व+पश्चिम)

• स्थितम्: is situated/extends
• स्थितम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘situated’

• अर्द्ध-योजन-विस्तीर्णम्: spread to half a yojana (in breadth)
• अर्द्ध-योजन-विस्तीर्णम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द्ध + योजन + विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त; √स्तॄ/स्तृ ‘to spread’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अर्द्धयोजनं विस्तीर्णम्

• दक्षिण-उत्तरतः: from south to north (south–north-wise)
• दक्षिण-उत्तरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Directional specification)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिण + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘-तः’; द्वन्द्वसमासः (दक्षिण+उत्तर)

• स्मृतम्: is stated, is known as
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘is said/remembered’

Speaker

Narada (reporting traditional measurements within a tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It preserves the traditional sacred geography of a tirtha, treating its measured boundaries as part of the tirtha’s authoritative description for pilgrimage and merit (puṇya) seeking.

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

Indirectly: by defining the tirtha’s extent, it guides devotees on where to perform acts like bathing, worship, and pradakṣiṇā—devotional practices that generate bhakti and sanctifying merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied traditional measurement and directional orientation (dik-nirdeśa) used in ritual planning and sacred-site description—practical knowledge allied to kalpa-style procedural tradition.