Shloka 14

The Determination of the Extent of the Sacred Field and Related Matters

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणात्र तपस्तप्तं सृष्टिकामेन मोहिनि । स्थितिकामेन हरिणा तपस्तप्तं च चक्रिणा ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

brahmaṇātra tapastaptaṃ sṛṣṭikāmena mohini | sthitikāmena hariṇā tapastaptaṃ ca cakriṇā || 14 ||

Translation

اے موہنی! یہاں برہما نے تخلیق کی خواہش سے تپسیا کی؛ اور جگت کی بقا و استحکام کی آرزو سے چکر دھاری ہری نے بھی تپسیا کی॥ ۱۴ ॥

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (context: object of ‘taptam’)

• तप्तम्: was practiced/performed
• तप्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु) → तप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(was) performed’ (passive sense)

• सृष्टिकामेन: with the desire for creation
• सृष्टिकामेन: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सृष्टेः कामः = desiring creation); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (agreeing with ब्रह्मणा)

• मोहिनि: O enchantress (address)
• मोहिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• स्थितिकामेन: with the desire for preservation
• स्थितिकामेन: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्थितेः कामः = desiring maintenance); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• हरिणा: by Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तप्तम्: was practiced
• तप्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु) → तप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• चक्रिणा: by the discus-bearer (Viṣṇu)
• चक्रिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Nārada (teaching in a tīrtha-māhātmya narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"Reverent calm while hearing of divine tapas, with a sense of awe at Brahmā and Hari undertaking austerities for cosmic functions."}

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Mohini

FAQs

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

It teaches that even cosmic functions like creation and preservation are grounded in tapas (disciplined spiritual effort), and that sacred places are remembered as sites where such divine austerities were performed.

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

By naming Hari (Viṣṇu) as the preserver who undertakes tapas, the verse frames divine preservation as purposeful and dharmic—encouraging devotees to align their own vows and worship with Hari’s sustaining will.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tapas as a foundational discipline used alongside vrata and tīrtha-sevā; it does not directly teach a specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) but supports the ritual-ethical framework in which such practices operate.