Shloka 8

The Greatness of Kāśī (Avimukta): Pilgrimage Calendar, Yātrā-Dharma, and the Network of Śiva-Liṅgas

Devanagari script

कपालमोचनस्थैस्तु गुह्यकैः शुभलोचने । पौषे मासि कृता यात्रा स्नानध्यानार्चनान्वितैः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

kapālamocanasthaistu guhyakaiḥ śubhalocane | pauṣe māsi kṛtā yātrā snānadhyānārcanānvitaiḥ || 8 ||

Translation

噢，善目者！在保沙月（Pauṣa），住于“解颅”（Kapāla-mocana）之地的古希耶迦众行此朝圣，伴以沐浴、禅观与供奉礼拜。

Word by Word

• कपाल-मोचन-स्थैः: by those staying at Kapālamocana
• कपाल-मोचन-स्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + मोचन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त, √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘कपालमोचने स्थाः’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष

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

• गुह्यकैः: by the Guhyakas
• गुह्यकैः: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• शुभ-लोचने: O one with auspicious eyes
• शुभ-लोचने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘शुभे लोचने यस्याः’ इति कर्मधारय

• पौषे: in Pauṣa
• पौषे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौष (प्रातिपदिक; मास-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; मास-विशेषणरूपे

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• कृता: was performed
• कृता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘यात्रा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• यात्रा: pilgrimage
• यात्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्नान-ध्यान-अर्चन-अन्वितैः: by those endowed with bathing, meditation, and worship
• स्नान-ध्यान-अर्चन-अन्वितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त, √इ धातु + नि/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘स्नानेन ध्यानेन अर्चनेन च अन्विताः’—समाहार-द्वन्द्व-आश्रित तत्पुरुषभावः

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kapala-mocana
• Guhyakas
• Pausha

FAQs

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

It presents tīrtha-yātrā as a complete sādhanā: not mere travel, but a disciplined practice combining snāna (purification), dhyāna (inner recollection), and arcana (formal worship) during an auspicious time (Pauṣa).

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

By emphasizing arcana alongside meditation, the verse frames devotion as both inward (dhyāna) and outward (ritual worship), showing bhakti expressed through reverent practice at a sacred place.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and traditional calendrics (auspicious timing by lunar month—Pauṣa) are implied, guiding when and how a tīrtha observance should be performed.