Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

कपालमोचनार्थं हि पाणिं प्रक्षालयन् जले । वर्षत्रयं भ्रमित्वा तु प्राप्तो बदरिकाश्रमम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

kapālamocanārthaṃ hi pāṇiṃ prakṣālayan jale | varṣatrayaṃ bhramitvā tu prāpto badarikāśramam || 26 ||

Translation

کپال-موچن کے لیے وہ پانی میں اپنا ہاتھ دھوتا رہتا تھا؛ اور تین برس بھٹکنے کے بعد آخرکار بدریکاشرم پہنچا۔

Word by Word

• कपालमोचनार्थम्: for the purpose of freeing (from) the skull
• कपालमोचनार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल + मोचन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कपालस्य मोचनस्य अर्थः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (as adverbial accusative of purpose)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-निपात (indeed/for)

• पाणिम्: hand
• पाणिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रक्षालयन्: washing
• प्रक्षालयन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘washing’

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वर्षत्रयम्: three years
• वर्षत्रयम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time-extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण

• भ्रमित्वा: having roamed
• भ्रमित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having wandered/roamed’

• तु: then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अनन्तरार्थक (but/then)

• प्राप्तः: arrived
• प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having reached/arrived’

• बदरिकाश्रमम्: to Badarikā-āśrama
• बदरिकाश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बदरी + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बदरी-नामकः आश्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Badarikashrama

FAQs

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

It highlights prayāścitta (atonement) and tirtha-yātrā as transformative disciplines: sustained purification and prolonged wandering culminate in reaching Badarikā, a tirtha associated with release from heavy spiritual burdens.

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

Though the verse is framed as purification, its movement toward Badarikā implies turning to a Vishnu-connected sacred space; in the Narada Purana’s tirtha context, pilgrimage and purification are supports that prepare the heart for bhakti and grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis is implied: cleansing acts (snāna/prakṣālana) and prayāścitta procedures aligned with dharma-śāstra style observance, rather than a technical exposition of śikṣā/vyākaraṇa/jyotiṣa.