Shloka 22

The Determination of the Extent of the Sacred Field and Related Matters

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

उपवासश्च दानं च होमो जप्यं सुरार्चनम् । अक्षयत्वं प्रयांत्येव नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

upavāsaśca dānaṃ ca homo japyaṃ surārcanam | akṣayatvaṃ prayāṃtyeva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 22 ||

Translation

उपवासश्च दानं च होमो जप्यं सुरार्चनम् । अक्षयत्वं प्रयांत्येव नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥

Word by Word

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• होमः: fire-offering
• होमः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जप्यम्: japa (recitation)
• जप्यम्: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्; भावे/कर्मणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘that which is to be muttered’

• सुर-अर्चनम्: worship of the gods
• सुर-अर्चनम्: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुराणाम् अर्चनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अक्षयत्वम्: imperishability
• अक्षयत्वम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षयत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रयान्ति: attain/go to
• प्रयान्ति: प्रधानक्रिया (गति/फलप्राप्ति)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic/only)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: देशाधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• कार्या: necessary
• कार्या: विधेय (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; ‘to be done/necessary’

• विचारणा: deliberation/inquiry
• विचारणा: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the mahatmya/vrata instruction context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It asserts that core dharmic practices—fasting, charity, homa, japa, and worship—produce akṣaya (inexhaustible) spiritual merit, emphasizing their reliability as sādhanā.

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

By highlighting surārcana (worship) alongside japa and vrata, it frames devotion as practiced worship supported by disciplined observances that yield lasting spiritual fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: homa and arcana depend on correct mantra use and procedure (connected to Śikṣā for pronunciation and Kalpa for ritual method), while japa stresses disciplined repetition of mantras.