Shloka 1

Glory of Puruṣottama: Pañcatīrthī Observance and Narasiṃha Worship

Devanagari script

मोहिन्युवाच । कस्मिन्कालें द्विजश्रेष्ठ गंतव्यं पुरुषोत्तमे । विधिना केन कर्तव्या पंचतीर्थ्यपि मानद ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

mohinyuvāca | kasminkāleṃ dvijaśreṣṭha gaṃtavyaṃ puruṣottame | vidhinā kena kartavyā paṃcatīrthyapi mānada || 1 ||

Translation

摩希尼说道：“噢，最胜的二次生者，应在何时前往普鲁绍塔玛？又当依何等仪轨来修行‘五圣渡’（Pañcatīrthī）之朝圣，噢，赐予尊荣者？”

Word by Word

• mohinī: Mohinī
• mohinī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (मोहिनी-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्-धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• kasmin: in which
• kasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (किम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; interrogative ‘in which’

• kāle: time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (काल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dvija-śreṣṭha: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (द्विज) + śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; ‘O best of the twice-born’

• gantavyam: should be gone to / should be visited
• gantavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम्-धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; impersonal obligation: ‘is to be gone/should be visited’

• puruṣottame: at Puruṣottama (holy place)
• puruṣottame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣottama (पुरुषोत्तम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; place-name/holy site implied

• vidhinā: by what procedure
• vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (विधि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• kena: by which
• kena: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (किम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; interrogative ‘by which/with what’

• kartavyā: should be performed
• kartavyā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ-धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय), Feminine, Nominative Singular; agrees with implied ‘yātrā/vidhiḥ’ or with ‘paṃcatīrthī’ understood as feminine; ‘is to be done’

• paṃca-tīrthī: the five-tīrtha rite/pilgrimage
• paṃca-tīrthī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of kartavyā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (पञ्च) + tīrtha (तीर्थ) + ī (ई/इन्-प्रत्यय forming adjective/noun)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular; ‘the five-tīrtha observance/pilgrimage’

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’)

• mānada: O giver of honor (respected one)
• mānada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānada (मानद-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; epithet ‘giver of honor’

Speaker

Mohinī

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Pañcatīrthī (pilgrimage observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī
• Puruṣottama

FAQs

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

This verse frames pilgrimage as a disciplined sādhana: not merely going to a holy place, but going at the proper time (kāla) and following the proper injunctions (vidhi), which is central to tīrtha-māhātmya teachings in the Uttara-bhāga.

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

By asking about Puruṣottama and the correct method of Pañcatīrthī, the verse emphasizes bhakti expressed through reverent approach, sacred travel, and rule-guided worship—devotion that is both heartfelt and scripturally aligned.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The focus on kāla (timing) and vidhi (procedure) points to Jyotiṣa (auspicious timing) and Kalpa (ritual procedure) as applied Vedic disciplines guiding tīrtha observances.