Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

अकारस्तत्र विज्ञेयो विष्णुलोकगतिप्रदः । तस्य दक्षिणपार्श्वे तु उकारः परिकीर्तितः ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

akārastatra vijñeyo viṣṇulokagatipradaḥ | tasya dakṣiṇapārśve tu ukāraḥ parikīrtitaḥ || 39 ||

Translation

அங்கே ‘அ’ என்ற எழுத்து விஷ்ணுலோகப் பாதையை அளிப்பதாக அறிய வேண்டும். அதன் வலப்புறத்தில் ‘உ’ என்ற எழுத்து இருப்பதாகப் புகழப்படுகிறது.

Word by Word

• अकारः: the letter 'a'
• अकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तत्र: there/in that (Oṃkāra)
• तत्र: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• विज्ञेयः: is to be understood
• विज्ञेयः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/य-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विध्यर्थः—'is to be known'

• विष्णु-लोक-गति-प्रदः: granting the path to Viṣṇu’s world
• विष्णु-लोक-गति-प्रदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णुलोकस्य गतिं प्रददाति इति)

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दक्षिण-पार्श्वे: on the right side
• दक्षिण-पार्श्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (दक्षिणं पार्श्वम्)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• उकारः: the letter 'u'
• उकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• परिकीर्तितः: is declared
• परिकीर्तितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—'is declared'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It assigns salvific power to the primal syllable ‘A’, teaching that correct mantric understanding leads to attainment of Viṣṇu’s abode (Viṣṇuloka).

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

By linking devotionally charged mantra-syllables with Viṣṇu’s realm, it frames bhakti as practiced through reverent japa, contemplation, and knowledge of the Lord’s mantric form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics): precise recognition of vowels (akāra/ukāra) and their placement is treated as spiritually consequential in mantra practice.