Shloka 23

The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power

Devanagari script

आभ्सां मध्ये तु या नाडी सुषुम्ना सा प्रकीर्तिता । मत्स्योदरी च सा ज्ञेया विस्वरं तत्प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

ābhsāṃ madhye tu yā nāḍī suṣumnā sā prakīrtitā | matsyodarī ca sā jñeyā visvaraṃ tatprakīrtitam || 23 ||

Translation

诸脉之中居于中央者，被宣称为“苏舒姆那”（Suṣumnā）。亦当知其名为“摩蹉优陀梨”（Matsyodarī）；而那中央之流又称“毗斯伐罗”（Visvara）。

Word by Word

• अप्साम्: of the waters
• अप्साम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; genitive plural; ‘of waters’

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative singular; ‘in the middle’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• या: which (she)
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• नाडी: nāḍī/channel
• नाडी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुषुम्ना: Suṣumnā
• सुषुम्ना: Vidheyavisheshya (विधेयविशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुषुम्ना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name of central channel

• सा: that (one)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तिता: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मत्स्योदरी: Matsyodarī (name)
• मत्स्योदरी: Vidheyavisheshya (विधेयविशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य + उदर (प्रातिपदिक); components: मत्स्य-उदरी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; bahuvrīhi ‘having a fish-like belly’ (name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• सा: she/that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ज्ञेया: to be known
• ज्ञेया: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विस्वरम्: Visvara (name/epithet)
• विस्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; proper name/epithet

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative used adjectivally

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is proclaimed’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on subtle-body yogic channels)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It identifies the Suṣumnā as the central prāṇa-channel, highlighting the inner route associated with yogic ascent and liberation-oriented practice rather than outward ritual alone.

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

By naming the central nāḍī and its recognized epithets, the verse supports the idea that devotion is strengthened by inner discipline—steady prāṇa and mind—so worship becomes concentrated and one-pointed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical yogic-phonetic vocabulary (svara/prāṇa notions) often linked with Śikṣā-style precision in breath and sound, using specialized terms for subtle channels and their functions.