Shloka 25

Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha

Devanagari script

कल्पक्षयेऽपि न भवेत्तस्य पुण्यस्य संक्षयः । वंध्यापि वर्षपर्यंतं स्नात्वा पञ्चनदे ह्रदे ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

kalpakṣaye'pi na bhavettasya puṇyasya saṃkṣayaḥ | vaṃdhyāpi varṣaparyaṃtaṃ snātvā pañcanade hrade || 25 ||

Translation

แม้ถึงคราวสิ้นกัลป์ บุญนั้นก็มิได้เสื่อมสลาย แม้สตรีผู้เป็นหมัน หากอาบน้ำในสระปัญจนทตลอดหนึ่งปีเต็ม ก็ย่อมได้ส่วนแห่งบุญอันยั่งยืน

Word by Word

• कल्पक्षये: at the end of an aeon
• कल्पक्षये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (कल्पस्य क्षयः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (even)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध-निपातः (negation)

• भवेत्: would occur/be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• तस्य: of that/of his
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• पुण्यस्य: of the merit
• पुण्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचनम्

• संक्षयः: diminution/decay
• संक्षयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• वंध्या: a barren woman
• वंध्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject, implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंध्या/वन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (even/also)

• वर्षपर्यन्तम्: for a year (up to a year)
• वर्षपर्यन्तम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वर्षपर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण कालावधि-अर्थे (accusative of duration: 'for up to a year'); तत्पुरुषसमासः (वर्षस्य पर्यन्तः)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (gerund), 'having bathed'

• पञ्चनदे: at Pañcanada
• पञ्चनदे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचनम्

• ह्रदे: in the lake/pond
• ह्रदे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue; Tirtha-Mahatmya section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pañcanada (Tirtha)
• Hrada (sacred lake)

FAQs

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

It declares the akṣaya (non-diminishing) nature of merit earned through the prescribed sacred bath at Pañcanada-hrada—so potent that it is said to remain undiminished even until the end of a kalpa.

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

While the verse speaks in the language of tirtha-mahātmya and puṇya, it supports bhakti-oriented dharma by emphasizing faith-filled, disciplined practice at a sacred place—an outward act that nurtures inner reverence for the divine order upheld by the Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa/ācāra in the broader sense) is implied: the discipline of tīrtha-snānā and time-bound observance (varṣa-paryanta) reflects codified dharmic procedure rather than grammar or astrology.