Shloka 5

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

यत्कर्त्तव्यं च विधिना नृभिर्द्धर्मपरायणैः । तच्छ्रुत्वा स द्विजो राजन्मोहिन्या भाषितं वचः ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

yatkarttavyaṃ ca vidhinā nṛbhirddharmaparāyaṇaiḥ | tacchrutvā sa dvijo rājanmohinyā bhāṣitaṃ vacaḥ || 5 ||

Translation

大王啊，那位两次出生的婆罗门听了摩希尼所说、关于奉持达摩之人应依正法而行的言辞之后，便随即作出回应并依之而行。

Word by Word

• यत्: what, which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done, obligatory
• कर्तव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory)

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

• विधिना: by rule, according to procedure
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• नृभिः: by men, by people
• नृभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• धर्म-परायणैः: by those devoted to dharma
• धर्म-परायणैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘धर्मे परायणाः’ = devoted to dharma

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• द्विजः: the brahmin
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• मोहिन्या: by Mohinī
• मोहिन्या: Kartr-karana (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• भाषितम्: spoken
• भाषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) qualifying ‘वचः’

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller addressing the King)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī
• King (Rājan)
• Dvija (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śāstric discipline: Dharma becomes effective when duties are performed according to vidhi (proper prescription), guided by authoritative instruction.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as obedient practice—true devotion aligns one’s actions with dharma and scriptural procedure rather than personal impulse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The stress on vidhi points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) as a Vedāṅga-based foundation for correct performance of religious acts.