Shloka 5

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

Kurukṣetra Māhātmya

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मज्ञानं गयाश्राद्धं गोग्रहे मरणं तथा । वासः पुंसां कुरुक्षेत्रे मुक्तिरुक्ता चतुर्विधा ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

brahmajñānaṃ gayāśrāddhaṃ gograhe maraṇaṃ tathā | vāsaḥ puṃsāṃ kurukṣetre muktiruktā caturvidhā || 5 ||

Translation

证悟梵（Brahman）、在伽耶为祖先行施食祭（śrāddha）、于牛舍（gogṛha）中辞世、以及居住于俱卢克舍多罗——此四者被宣说为人类通向解脱的四种途径。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मज्ञानम्: knowledge of Brahman
• ब्रह्मज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Item in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• गयाश्राद्धम्: Śrāddha at Gayā
• गयाश्राद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता/Item in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• गोग्रहे: in the cow-pen/cowshed
• गोग्रहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मरणम्: death
• मरणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Item in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

• वासः: dwelling/residence
• वासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• पुंसाम्: of men
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुरुक्षेत्रे: in Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु-क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• उक्ता: is declared
• उक्ता: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; 'has been said'

• चतुर्विधा: fourfold
• चतुर्विधा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-विध (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) मुक्तिः-विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a tirtha-mahatmya context; dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineage implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Gaya
• Kurukshetra
• Go-griha (Goshala)

FAQs

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

It compresses a tirtha-mahatmya teaching into a fourfold moksha framework—inner realization (brahmajñāna) and three sacred, dharmic supports (Gayā śrāddha, death in a gośālā, and living in Kurukṣetra) that are praised as powerful liberating causes.

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

Though it names brahmajñāna explicitly, the other three means are devotional-dharmic acts tied to pilgrimage, ancestral offerings, and service to cows—practices traditionally performed with faith and surrender, aligning one’s life with sacred duty and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is central: proper śrāddha performance at Gayā (kalpa/ritual procedure) and kṣetra-dharma (rules of sacred places). The verse points to dharmic praxis rather than technical sciences like jyotiṣa or vyākaraṇa.