Shloka 9

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

अथ तत्पंचमं वक्त्रं ब्रह्मणो भूतनायकः । प्रगल्भं तमुपालक्ष्य क्षणाज्जातः समत्सरः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

atha tatpaṃcamaṃ vaktraṃ brahmaṇo bhūtanāyakaḥ | pragalbhaṃ tamupālakṣya kṣaṇājjātaḥ samatsaraḥ || 9 ||

Translation

Pagkatapos, nang makita ang matapang na ikalimang mukha ni Brahmā, ang Panginoon ng mga nilalang ay agad napuno ng diwang pakikipagtunggali (paninibugho) sa isang iglap.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• पञ्चमम्: fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ordinal adjective

• वक्त्रम्: face/mouth
• वक्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive)

• भूतनायकः: lord of beings
• भूतनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत+नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भूतानां नायकः)

• प्रगल्भम्: bold/arrogant
• प्रगल्भम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रगल्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण

• तम्: it/that (face)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; pronoun

• उपालक्ष्य: having noticed
• उपालक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप+लक्ष् (धातु) → उपालक्ष्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); having noticed/observed

• क्षणात्: from/within a moment
• क्षणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (ablative)

• जातः: arose/was born
• जातः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; used predicatively

• समत्सरः: jealous/envious
• समत्सरः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स+मत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण (with jealousy)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) reporting the Purāṇic episode

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhūtanāyaka (Śiva/Bhūtanātha)

FAQs

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

It highlights how even a moment of pride or audacity (pragalbhatā) can trigger matsara (rivalry/jealousy), warning the seeker that ego quickly disturbs inner harmony and dharmic order.

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

By implication, bhakti requires humility: rivalry and self-assertion obstruct devotion, whereas surrender and reverence stabilize the heart and keep one aligned with the divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline—recognizing and restraining matsara as part of dharma and self-cultivation.