Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

वसुष्ठश्चोर्वशीजातोऽगस्त्योऽपि स्वयमीश्वरौ । येन लोकोपकारार्थं वासिष्ठं शास्त्रमुत्तमम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

vasuṣṭhaścorvaśījāto'gastyo'pi svayamīśvarau | yena lokopakārārthaṃ vāsiṣṭhaṃ śāstramuttamam || 42 ||

Translation

毗湿多，生于乌尔瓦希；阿迦斯底耶亦然——二者皆为自显之主。由他们为世间利益，至上的《毗湿多圣典》得以宣示流传。

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ऋषि-नाम

• च: and
• च: Samucchaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उर्वशीजातः: born of Urvaśī
• उर्वशीजातः: Karta-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उर्वशी + जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उर्वश्यां जातः/‘born of Urvaśī’); ‘जात’ = जन्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त

• अगस्त्यः: Agastya
• अगस्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ऋषि-नाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samucchaya/Nipāta (समुच्चय निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात

• स्वयम्: by themselves
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• ईश्वरौ: two lords/masters
• ईश्वरौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual); वसिष्ठ-अगस्त्ययोः समाहारः (both as subjects)

• येन: by whom/whereby
• येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम; साधन/हेतु-निर्देश (by whom/whereby)

• लोकोपकारार्थम्: for the benefit of the world
• लोकोपकारार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: लोक + उपकार + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; ‘अर्थम्’ (acc. used adverbially) = प्रयोजनार्थक अव्यय (for the purpose of); लोकोपकारस्य अर्थम् = for the welfare of the world

• वासिष्ठम्: Vāsiṣṭha (pertaining to Vasiṣṭha)
• वासिष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ‘शास्त्रम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण (pertaining to Vasiṣṭha)

• शास्त्रम्: treatise/śāstra
• शास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Karma-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्मसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘शास्त्रम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Urvaśī
• Agastya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that realized sages function as channels of divine knowledge, revealing authoritative śāstra for loka-upakāra (the spiritual welfare of all).

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

By highlighting śāstra revealed through great ṛṣis, it implies that bhakti and dharma are practiced correctly when grounded in an authentic teacher–text lineage rather than personal invention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to śāstra-prāmāṇya (scriptural authority) and paramparā (transmission), the practical foundation for applying disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Kalpa in a reliable way.