Shloka 51

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

Devanagari script

त्वां पश्यन् निजकर्मस्थं कोऽपि दोषो न तस्य वै । मया पृष्टः कथं नाम कन्येयं समुपाहृता ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

tvāṃ paśyan nijakarmasthaṃ ko'pi doṣo na tasya vai | mayā pṛṣṭaḥ kathaṃ nāma kanyeyaṃ samupāhṛtā || 51 ||

Translation

เมื่อเห็นท่านตั้งมั่นอยู่ในหน้าที่ของตน ก็จริงแท้ว่าเขาไม่มีโทษใดเลย ถึงกระนั้นเราก็ถามเขาว่า “ด้วยวิธีใดกันเล่า นางกุมารีนี้จึงถูกพามาที่นี่?”

Word by Word

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• paśyan: seeing
• paśyan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश् धातु) → paśyat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with implied subject (‘I/one seeing you’)

• nija-karma-stham: standing in your own duty/work
• nija-karma-stham: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √sthā)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies tvām

• kaḥ: who/what (any)
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (interrogative)

• api: even/any
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• doṣaḥ: fault
• doṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartr̥-karaṇa (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• pṛṣṭaḥ: was asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (प्रच्छ् धातु) → pṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘(he) was asked’

• katham: how
• katham: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय)

• nāma: indeed/then
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/interrogative particle (निपात)

• kanyā: the maiden/daughter
• kanyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• samupāhṛtā: was brought/presented
• samupāhṛtā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√hṛ (हृ धातु) → upāhṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with kanyā

Speaker

Narada (narrating/asking within the dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vicara (reflective inquiry)

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharmic discernment: when a person is seen established in proper duty (nija-karma), blame (doṣa) should not be hastily assigned, yet truthful inquiry into circumstances remains appropriate.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti-based ethics: devotion is not separate from dharma—one should be charitable in judgment, avoid needless accusation, and still seek clarity through honest questioning in a tirtha-mahatmya setting.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa-style precision in meaning is relevant: terms like doṣa (fault), nija-karma-stha (established in one’s duty), and samupāhṛtā (brought/presented) guide correct interpretation of action and intent in narrative and ritual contexts.