Shloka 23

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

पापरूपपशूनां हि ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं पुरा । सितासिता तु या धारा सरस्वत्या विदर्भिता ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

pāparūpapaśūnāṃ hi brahmaṇā nirmitaṃ purā | sitāsitā tu yā dhārā sarasvatyā vidarbhitā || 23 ||

Translation

पुरा ब्रह्मणा पापरूपपशवो निर्मिताः; सरस्वत्या विदर्भिता सा सितासिता धारा।

Word by Word

• पाप-रूप-पशूनाम्: of the beasts having sinful form
• पाप-रूप-पशूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—पापरूपाः ये पशवः तेषाम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (ब्रह्मन्-शब्दः), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देशे

• निर्मितम्: made/created
• निर्मितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√मा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘made/created’

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सिता-असिता: white-and-black
• सिता-असिता: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक) + असित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व) ‘white and black’

• तु: but/and indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• धारा: stream/flow
• धारा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सरस्वत्या: by Sarasvatī
• सरस्वत्या: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• विदर्भिता: was delineated/arranged
• विदर्भिता: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√दृभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘made distinct/marked out/arranged’

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya, within the broader Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Sarasvati

FAQs

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

It frames a sacred landscape where cosmic creation (Brahmā’s making of pāpa-rūpa beings) and purification geography (Sarasvatī delineating a special stream) intersect—implying that certain tirthas are structured as remedies for sin and moral disorder.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing Sarasvatī’s sanctifying role, it supports the bhakti-oriented practice of reverent pilgrimage, bathing, and remembrance of divine agencies that uphold dharma—acts commonly aligned with devotion and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Kalpa (ritual procedure) in the tirtha-yātrā framework: identifying and distinguishing a specific sacred stream (Sitāsitā dhārā) as a ritually meaningful site for purification observances.