Shloka 123

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

गौरेव रक्षां कुरुते तस्माद्देया द्विजोत्तमे । तीर्थे न प्रतिगृह्णीयात्पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

gaureva rakṣāṃ kurute tasmāddeyā dvijottame | tīrthe na pratigṛhṇīyātpuṇyeṣvāyataneṣu ca || 123 ||

Translation

母牛自身即赐护佑；因此，噢最胜二生者，应当以之行布施。然而在圣地渡口（tīrtha）以及诸功德圣所之中，不应受取馈赠。

Word by Word

• गौरा: Gaurā (Pārvatī)
• गौरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपमा-प्रयोगे (simile base)

• इव: like, as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुरुते: does, provides
• कुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-रूपेण हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (ablatival adverb: 'therefore/from that reason')

• देया: should be given
• देया: Vidhi (विधि/Prescription)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative), 'to be given' (gerundive/तव्यत्-अर्थ)

• द्विजोत्तमे: in/for the best of the twice-born (O best brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजोत्तमे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative-address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे/अधिकरणे (addressing/locative of reference)

• तीर्थे: at a sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• प्रतिगृह्णीयात्: should accept (receive)
• प्रतिगृह्णीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुण्येषु: in holy (places)
• पुण्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying)

• आयतनेषु: in abodes/shrines
• आयतनेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It links charity (especially go-dāna) with protection and merit, while warning that receiving gifts in sacred spaces can taint the sanctity of pilgrimage by turning worship into personal gain.

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

By emphasizing selfless giving and restraint from taking at tīrthas, it protects bhakti from commerce and ego, keeping pilgrimage focused on reverence, purity, and service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-style niyama) is implied: proper conduct around dāna (giving) and pratigraha (accepting) at tīrthas and puṇya-āyatanas to preserve ritual purity and intent.