Shloka 36

Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha

Devanagari script

द्वापरे बिंदुतीर्थँ च कलौ पञ्चनदं स्मृतम् । बिंदुतीर्थे नरो दत्वा कांचनं कृष्णकलोन्मितम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

dvāpare biṃdutīrthaṃ ca kalau pañcanadaṃ smṛtam | biṃdutīrthe naro datvā kāṃcanaṃ kṛṣṇakalonmitam || 36 ||

Translation

在兜婆罗时代，宾度圣渡（Bindu-tīrtha）被宣称为最殊胜；在迦利时代，五河圣地（Pañcanada）被忆念为最上。若有人在宾度圣渡依“克里希那-卡拉”（kṛṣṇa-kalā）之量布施黄金，便得广大法德功德。

Word by Word

• द्वापरे: in the Dvāpara (age)
• द्वापरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचनम्; ‘द्वापर-युगे’ (in Dvāpara age)

• बिन्दुतीर्थम्: Bindu-tīrtha (the sacred ford named Bindu)
• बिन्दुतीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बिन्दोः तीर्थम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• कलौ: in the Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘कलि-युगे’ (in Kali age)

• पञ्चनदम्: Pañcanada (the ‘five-river’ tīrtha/name)
• पञ्चनदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-नद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः द्विगु (पञ्च नद्यः यस्मिन्/यत्) नामरूपेण

• स्मृतम्: is remembered/said
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘स्मृतम्’ = ‘उच्यते/कथ्यते’ (is said/remembered)

• बिन्दुतीर्थे: at/in Bindu-tīrtha
• बिन्दुतीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बिन्दोः तीर्थे)

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive), ‘दत्त्वा’ = ‘दाने कृत्वा’ (having given)

• काञ्चनम्: gold
• काञ्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• कृष्णकलोन्मितम्: measured by (the unit) kṛṣṇakalā
• कृष्णकलोन्मितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण-कल-उन्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् ‘काञ्चनम्’ प्रति; समासः तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णकलया उन्मितम् = measured by a ‘kṛṣṇakalā’ unit)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya context; dialogue tradition commonly with Sanatkumara brothers in this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Bindu-tirtha
• Panchanada
• Dvapara-yuga
• Kali-yuga

FAQs

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

It teaches yuga-specific sacred geography: certain tīrthas are highlighted as especially potent in particular ages, and it links pilgrimage (tīrtha) with dāna (charity) as a direct means to accrue puṇya (religious merit).

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverential action—visiting revered tīrthas and offering dāna with faith—showing devotion as lived practice aligned with dharma, especially suited to the limitations of later ages like Kali.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly reflects kalā/measurement conventions used in ritual giving (dāna), aligning with practical ritual procedure (kalpa-style discipline) where specified standards and correct quantification of gifts matter.