Shloka 9

Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha

Devanagari script

सर्वाण्येतानि सुभगे काश्यामायांति जाह्नवीम् । नित्यं पर्वसु सर्वेषु पुण्यैश्चायतनैः सह ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

sarvāṇyetāni subhage kāśyāmāyāṃti jāhnavīm | nityaṃ parvasu sarveṣu puṇyaiścāyatanaiḥ saha || 9 ||

Translation

Hỡi người cát tường, tất cả những năng lực linh thiêng và các thánh địa ấy đều quy tụ về Jāhnavī (sông Gaṅgā) tại Kāśī—thường hằng, và đặc biệt vào mọi ngày lễ thiêng—cùng với các đền miếu và thánh xứ đầy công đức.

Word by Word

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying एतानि)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सुभगे: O auspicious one
• सुभगे: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• काश्याम्: to/in Kashi
• काश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• आयान्ति: come
• आयान्ति: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Active), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); उपसर्ग: आ-

• जाह्नवीम्: Jahnavi (Ganga)
• जाह्नवीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: always)

• पर्वसु: on festivals/holy days
• पर्वसु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पर्वसु)

• पुण्यैः: holy/sacred
• पुण्यैः: सहकारक-सम्बन्ध (Instrument with saha)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying आयतनैः)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• आयतनैः: with shrines/abodes
• आयतनैः: सह (Sahārtha/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सह (Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (postposition: with)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kashi
• Jahnavi (Ganga)

FAQs

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

It declares Kāśī’s Gaṅgā (Jāhnavī) as a supreme convergence-point where sacred merits, holy seats, and tirtha-presences are said to gather—especially on parva (festival) days—amplifying the sanctity of pilgrimage and snāna (ritual bathing).

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

By emphasizing sacred place and sacred time (tirtha and parva), it supports bhakti through practiced reverence—pilgrimage, bathing, and worship at Gaṅgā in Kāśī—where devotion is intensified by the perceived presence of many holy powers.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to the importance of kāla-nirṇaya (time-determination) for parva days—aligned with Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology)—since the verse stresses that festivals and calendrical sacred times are key for tirtha-related rites.