Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

प्रक्षिपस्वानलप्रख्यां शक्तिं हेमविभूषिताम् । ममायं पंचतां यातु दिगंबररिपुप्रिय ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

prakṣipasvānalaprakhyāṃ śaktiṃ hemavibhūṣitām | mamāyaṃ paṃcatāṃ yātu digaṃbararipupriya || 2 ||

Translation

“Hãy phóng ngọn lao śakti rực như lửa, được trang sức bằng vàng. Nguyện kẻ này của thiếp trở về với năm đại—hỡi người được kẻ thù của Digambara yêu mến!”

Word by Word

• prakṣipa: throw/cast
• prakṣipa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṣip (धातु) लोट्
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र

• anala-prakhyām: fire-like
• anala-prakhyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anala (प्रातिपदिक) + prakhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘अग्नि-सदृशी’ इत्यर्थे

• śaktim: spear/weapon (śakti)
• śaktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• hema-vibhūṣitām: adorned with gold
• hema-vibhūṣitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त; √bhūṣ (धातु) क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘śaktim’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• paṃcatām: to death
• paṃcatām: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃcatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य), एकवचन; ‘पञ्चत्वम्’ = death (state of being five elements)

• yātu: let him go
• yātu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु) लोट्
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• digaṃbara-ripu-priya: O beloved of the enemy of Digambara
• digaṃbara-ripu-priya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: digaṃbara (प्रातिपदिक) + ripu (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; ‘दिगम्बरस्य रिपोः प्रिय’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Narrative speaker (contextual; a character in a martial/ritual address within the Mahatmya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)

Characters & Entities

• Digambara (as an epithet)
• Śakti (weapon)

FAQs

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

It frames death as pañcatva—returning to the five elements—while invoking a fierce, protective force symbolized by a fire-like śakti, typical of Mahatmya-style protection and victory motifs.

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

Bhakti appears here as surrender to a higher power for protection and justice: the speaker invokes a divinely empowered force rather than relying solely on personal strength, reflecting dependence on the deity’s will.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly reflects mantra-style imperative usage and epithet formation (a Vyākaraṇa/grammar takeaway): compounds like anala-prakhyā and digambara-ripu-priya show how Sanskrit compresses ritual address and description into precise samāsa forms.