Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

कलहाभिरता पत्या शप्ता भस्मत्वमागता । किंचित्पापावशेषेण राक्षसीं योनिमागता ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

kalahābhiratā patyā śaptā bhasmatvamāgatā | kiṃcitpāpāvaśeṣeṇa rākṣasīṃ yonimāgatā || 79 ||

Translation

她喜好争斗，遂被丈夫诅咒而化为灰烬；然而因仍残留些许罪业，她又投生于罗刹女（rākṣasī）的胎中。

Word by Word

• कलह: quarrel
• कलह: समासाङ्ग (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); ‘quarrel’ as compound member

• अभिरता: delighting in/engaged in
• अभिरता: कर्ता (Subject qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिरत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अभि+√रम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘engaged/delighting in’

• पत्या: by (my) husband
• पत्या: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental ‘by (my) husband’

• शप्ता: cursed
• शप्ता: कर्मणि-भाव (Predicative to subject/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शप्/√शप् (धातु ‘to curse’) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle ‘cursed’

• भस्मत्वम्: the state of becoming ash
• भस्मत्वम्: कर्म (Goal/state attained/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मत्व (प्रातिपदिक; भस्मन् + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; abstract state ‘ash-ness’

• आगता: attained/came to
• आगता: कर्मणि-भाव (Predicative to subject/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ+√गम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having come/attained’

• किंचित्: a little
• किंचित्: विशेषण (Modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय (quantifier), ‘a little/somewhat’

• पाप: sin
• पाप: समासाङ्ग (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); ‘sin’ as compound member

• अवशेषेण: by the remainder
• अवशेषेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental ‘by/with the remainder’

• राक्षसीम्: a rākṣasī
• राक्षसीम्: कर्म (Goal/object of motion/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘a rākṣasī (female demon)’

• योनिम्: womb/birth
• योनिम्: कर्म (Goal/object of motion/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘womb/birth’

• आगता: entered/attained
• आगता: कर्मणि-भाव (Predicative to subject/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ+√गम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having come/entered’

Speaker

Suta (narrating the account within the Tirtha-Mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It teaches the doctrine of karma with precision: even after a major consequence (being burnt to ashes by a curse), any remaining residue of sin (pāpāvaśeṣa) can still determine the next birth, showing why purification and sustained dharma are essential.

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

Indirectly, it highlights why bhakti and dharmic conduct are emphasized in the Purana: quarrelsome tendencies and sinful residue bind the jīva to lower births, whereas steady devotion, restraint, and purificatory practices help exhaust karma and uplift destiny.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a direct Vedāṅga lesson; the practical takeaway is dharma-śāstra ethics applied to household life—avoiding kalaha (discord) and cultivating right conduct to prevent karmic residues that shape future births.