Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

परिवेत्ता च दिधिषूः शन्तनुः स्वःसरित्पत्तिः । दिधिषू तनयः साक्षाद्वसुः स्त्रीवादमृत्युभाक् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

parivettā ca didhiṣūḥ śantanuḥ svaḥsaritpattiḥ | didhiṣū tanayaḥ sākṣādvasuḥ strīvādamṛtyubhāk || 33 ||

Translation

Binanggit ang ‘Parivettā’ (yaong nag-aasawa bago ang nakatatandang kapatid) at ang ‘didhiṣū’ (lalaking nagnanais ng ikalawang asawa); at si Śantanu—isinilang mula sa makalangit na ilog (Gaṅgā). At ang anak ng didhiṣū na iyon ay tunay na isang Vasu, na namatay dahil sa alitang may kinalaman sa isang babae.

Word by Word

• परिवेत्ता: the one who marries before (an elder brother)
• परिवेत्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवेत्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दिधिषूः: one who desires to marry (a widow/another’s wife)
• दिधिषूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिधिषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इच्छार्थक-नाम (one desiring to marry)

• शन्तनुः: Śantanu
• शन्तनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शन्तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper noun)

• स्वःसरित्पत्तिः: husband of the heavenly river (Gaṅgā)
• स्वःसरित्पत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वः + सरित् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): स्वःसरितः (स्वर्गनदी/गङ्गा) + पतिः

• दिधिषू: the didhiṣu (desirer to marry)
• दिधिषू: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिधिषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (पदपाठे दिधिषूः इति)

• तनयः: son
• तनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly
• साक्षात्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वसुः: a Vasu (divine being)
• वसुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देववर्ग-नाम (one of the Vasus)

• स्त्रीवादमृत्युभाक्: one who meets death due to talk of women (woman-related speech)
• स्त्रीवादमृत्युभाक्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री + वाद + मृत्यु + भज् (धातु) → भाक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'भाक्' = भज्-धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (one who partakes); समासः: स्त्रीवादस्य मृत्युः (स्त्रीवाद-मृत्यु) तं भजते इति

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana to the assembled sages, within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Shantanu
• Ganga
• Vasus

FAQs

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

It uses Itihasa-linked genealogy (Śantanu–Gaṅgā–Vasu) to underline karmic causality: social transgression and passion-driven conflict (especially around relationships) lead to suffering, while dharma-aligned conduct supports auspicious outcomes.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts worldly entanglement (marital rivalry and disputes) with the puranic ideal: reducing rāga-dveṣa and living by dharma makes the mind fit for steady remembrance of Bhagavān, which is the foundation of Vishnu-bhakti emphasized throughout the Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Nirukta/Vyākaraṇa-style technical labeling is used (e.g., parivettā, didhiṣū) to classify social situations precisely—showing how dharma discourse relies on accurate terminology and definition-based reasoning.