Shloka 16

Procedure for the Guḍa-dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift; Ten Dhenu-dānas; Yearlong Gaṅgā Worship and Darśana

Devanagari script

देहस्था या च रुद्राणां शंकरस्य सदा प्रिया । धेनुरूपेण सा देवी मम पापं व्यपोहतु ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

dehasthā yā ca rudrāṇāṃ śaṃkarasya sadā priyā | dhenurūpeṇa sā devī mama pāpaṃ vyapohatu || 16 ||

Translation

愿那位女神——住于诸鲁陀罗之身、恒为商羯罗所钟爱——今以圣牛之形，除去我的罪垢。

Word by Word

• deha-sthā: dwelling in the body
• deha-sthā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक) + sthā (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधार)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); compound: dehe sthitā (dwelling in the body)

• yā: she who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• rudrāṇām: of the Rudras
• rudrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6th), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• śaṃkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṃkarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6th), Ekavacana (sg.)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (adverb of time)

• priyā: beloved
• priyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.); predicate adjective (dehasthā yā ... priyā)

• dhenu-rūpeṇa: in the form of a cow
• dhenu-rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument or manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3rd), Ekavacana (sg.); ‘in the form of a cow’

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• devī: goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• mama: my/from me
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6th), Ekavacana (sg.)

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• vyapohatu: may (she) remove
• vyapohatu: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-apa√uh (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada; ‘let (her) remove’

Speaker

Narada (prayer/recitation within the tirtha-mahatmya narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Rudras
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Devi
• Dhenu (cow-form)

FAQs

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

It frames sin-removal (pāpa-nāśa) as the fruit of humble supplication to the Divine Feminine, praised as intimately present (dehasthā) and inseparable from Śaṅkara, invoked here through the sacred symbol of the cow.

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

Bhakti is expressed as direct prayer—addressing the deity with specific epithets (beloved of Śaṅkara, indwelling power) and seeking inner purification rather than mere external merit, aligning devotion with moral cleansing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/Vrata-prayoga) is implied: a tirtha-context mantra-style petition used for prāyaścitta (expiation). The verse functions like a concise stuti-prayoga for purification within pilgrimage observances.