Shloka 27

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

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

सभृत्यैस्तेऽष्टसाहस्रैर्द्धनुर्बाणधरैः सदा । रक्षंति च कुरुक्षेत्रं वारयंति च पापिनः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

sabhṛtyaiste'ṣṭasāhasrairddhanurbāṇadharaiḥ sadā | rakṣaṃti ca kurukṣetraṃ vārayaṃti ca pāpinaḥ || 27 ||

Translation

Cùng với tùy tùng của mình, tám nghìn cung thủ luôn mang cung tên, không ngừng hộ vệ Kurukṣetra và ngăn kẻ tội lỗi đến gần.

Word by Word

• स-भृत्यैः: with attendants
• स-भृत्यैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव (सह-अर्थ) — ‘with attendants’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृ — ‘they’

• अष्ट-साहस्रैः: (being) eight thousand
• अष्ट-साहस्रैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या) + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वक) — ‘by/with eight-thousand (in number)’

• धनुः-बाण-धरैः: by bow-and-arrow bearers
• धनुः-बाण-धरैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुस् + बाण + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण — ‘with bow-and-arrow bearers’ / ‘by those bearing bows and arrows’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण — ‘always’

• रक्षन्ति: protect
• रक्षन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘they protect’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय — ‘and’

• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म — object of रक्षन्ति

• वारयन्ति: ward off
• वारयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृ (धातु; वारयति = causative)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच् (causative) परस्मैपद — ‘they ward off/prevent’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय — ‘and’

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्म — object of वारयन्ति (‘the sinners’)

Speaker

Narrator (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kurukṣetra

FAQs

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

It affirms that Kurukṣetra is not merely a geographic site but a protected tīrtha-kṣetra, preserved by divine/appointed guardians so that the sanctity of pilgrimage and merit (puṇya) is not violated by impure conduct.

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

By emphasizing the safeguarding of a holy field, the verse supports bhakti indirectly: devotion matures through reverent approach to sacred spaces, disciplined behavior, and avoidance of pāpa—conditions that protect and deepen one’s worship and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway aligns with Dharma-śāstra and tīrtha-vidhi (rules of pilgrimage): maintain ritual purity and right conduct when visiting kṣetras; the verse implies regulated access and behavior rather than a technical lesson in a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.