Shloka 35

The Greatness of Kāśī (Avimukta): Pilgrimage Calendar, Yātrā-Dharma, and the Network of Śiva-Liṅgas

Devanagari script

कपालमोचनं नाम तत्रैव सुमहत्सरः । पावनं सर्वसत्त्वानां पुण्यदं परिकीर्तितम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

kapālamocanaṃ nāma tatraiva sumahatsaraḥ | pāvanaṃ sarvasattvānāṃ puṇyadaṃ parikīrtitam || 35 ||

Translation

तत्रैव ‘कपालमोचन’ इति नाम सुमहत् सरः; तत् सर्वसत्त्वानां पावनं पुण्यदं इति परिकीर्तितम्॥

Word by Word

• कपालमोचनम्: ‘Skull-release’ (name)
• कपालमोचनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल + मोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कपालस्य मोचनम्)

• नाम: named/called
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: संज्ञासूचक-अव्यय (indeclinable indicating name: ‘called’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• एव: indeed/right there
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (सरः)

• सरः: lake/pond
• सरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पावनम्: purifying
• पावनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (सरः/तीर्थम्)

• सर्वसत्त्वानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वसत्त्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि सत्त्वानि)

• पुण्यदम्: merit-giving
• पुण्यदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्यद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यं ददाति)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed/celebrated
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √कीर्त्/√कृत्? (धातु; √कीर्त् ‘to praise/mention’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः ‘has been proclaimed/celebrated’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Kapalamocana (Tirtha/Sarovara)

FAQs

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

It identifies Kapālamocana as a major tīrtha whose defining power is purification (pāvana) and the granting of spiritual merit (puṇya) to all beings.

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

By praising a tīrtha as purifying and merit-giving, the verse supports the bhakti-oriented Purāṇic model where faith-filled pilgrimage and sacred bathing become supportive practices for inner purity and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented application) is implied: tīrtha-snānā and pilgrimage as dharmic acts for accruing puṇya and purification, though no specific Vedāṅga technical rule is cited in this single verse.