Shloka 18

The Determination of the Extent of the Sacred Field and Related Matters

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

यत्र तत्र समायाता प्लक्षजाता सरस्वती । सा सभाज्य स्तुता तेन मुनिना धार्मिकेण ह ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

yatra tatra samāyātā plakṣajātā sarasvatī | sā sabhājya stutā tena muninā dhārmikeṇa ha || 18 ||

Translation

萨拉斯瓦蒂女神——生于普拉克沙树——辗转诸处而来。那位持守正法的牟尼以恭敬礼遇迎接她，并加以赞颂。

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: देशाधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: देशाधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• समायाता: having arrived
• समायाता: कर्ता (कर्मकर्तृ-भावेन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग; ‘आगता’ (having come)

• प्लक्षजाता: born from/at the plakṣa (tree)
• प्लक्षजाता: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्लक्ष + जाता (प्रातिपदिक; √जन् + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्लक्षात् जाता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī (river/goddess)
• सरस्वती: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सभाज्य: having honored
• सभाज्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-भज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययीभाव/क्त्वान्त-सम)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-सम अव्यय (ल्यप्); क्रियाविशेषण; ‘सभाज्य’ = ‘सत्कृत्य/पूजयित्वा’ (having honored)

• स्तुता: praised
• स्तुता: कर्म (कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि/कर्तरि-भावे ‘praised’

• तेन: by him
• तेन: करण (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• धार्मिकेण: righteous
• धार्मिकेण: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (मुनिना)

• ह: indeed
• ह: सम्बोधन/निपात (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Narada (narrating the Tirtha-Mahatmya section in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Plaksha

FAQs

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

It highlights tirtha-sevā as dharma: sacred waters are approached as living divinity, to be received with reverence (sabhājya) and praised (stuti), which sanctifies the pilgrim and the place.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as respectful reception and heartfelt praise of a divine manifestation (Sarasvatī). The verse models devotion through honoring and glorifying the deity present in a tirtha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway aligns with kalpa (ritual procedure): proper upacāra—welcoming, honoring, and reciting stuti—forms the correct etiquette for tirtha worship even without elaborate rites.