Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

मत्स्योदरीसमायुक्ता यदा गंगा बभूव ह । तस्मिन्काले शिवः स्नानात्कपालं मुक्तवाञ्छुभे ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

matsyodarīsamāyuktā yadā gaṃgā babhūva ha | tasminkāle śivaḥ snānātkapālaṃ muktavāñchubhe || 34 ||

Translation

ఓ శుభాంగీ! గంగా మత్స్యోదరీతో కలిసినప్పుడు, ఆ సమయంలో శివుడు స్నానం చేసి కపాలాన్ని విడిచిపెట్టెను॥

Word by Word

• मत्स्योदरी-समायुक्ता: associated with Matsyodarī
• मत्स्योदरी-समायुक्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्स्योदरी + समा + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √युज् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘joined/associated’; तत्पुरुषः (मत्स्योदर्या समायुक्ता)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (when)

• गंगा: Gaṅgā
• गंगा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• बभूव: became/was
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: स्मरण/पादपूरणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• काले: time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्नानात्: from bathing/after bathing
• स्नानात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• कपालम्: skull
• कपालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मुक्तवान्: released/let go
• मुक्तवान्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुच् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle) ‘having released’

• शुभे: O auspicious lady!
• शुभे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Shiva
• Matsyodari

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Gaṅgā as a supreme tīrtha where even Śiva’s act of bathing is linked with the removal (casting away) of impurity-symbols like the kapāla, emphasizing purification and liberation through sacred contact with the river.

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

In the Uttara-bhāga tīrtha-māhātmya style, devotion is expressed through reverent pilgrimage and snāna; honoring Gaṅgā and Śiva with faith turns a physical act (bathing) into bhakti-infused surrender and inner cleansing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: tīrtha-snānā as a prescribed act for śuddhi (purificatory discipline), a key element in Purāṇic ritual manuals aligned with Vedic observance.