Shloka 106

Description of the Pilgrimage to the Sacred Tīrthas

Kurukṣetra-yātrā-krama

Devanagari script

कपाल मोचने स्नात्वा ब्रह्महापि विशुध्यति । वैश्वामित्रे नरः स्नातो ब्राह्मण्यं समवाप्नुयात् ॥ १०६ ॥

Transliteration

kapāla mocane snātvā brahmahāpi viśudhyati | vaiśvāmitre naraḥ snāto brāhmaṇyaṃ samavāpnuyāt || 106 ||

Translation

在迦波罗摩遮那（Kapāla-mocana）沐浴，即便犯有梵杀罪（brahma-hatyā，杀害婆罗门）者亦得清净；而在毗湿瓦密多罗（Vaiśvāmitra）沐浴之人，将获得婆罗门之功德与地位。

Word by Word

• कपालमोचने: at Kapālamocana (tīrtha)
• कपालमोचने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल + मोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘कपालस्य मोचनम्’)—तीर्थ-नाम

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having bathed’

• ब्रह्महा: even a brahmin-slayer
• ब्रह्महा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्महन्’ (brahmin-slayer)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपवादार्थ (even/also)

• विशुध्यति: becomes purified
• विशुध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि-

• वैश्वामित्रे: at Vaiśvāmitra (tīrtha)
• वैश्वामित्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तीर्थ-नाम

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्नातः: having bathed
• स्नातः: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having bathed/bathed’

• ब्राह्मण्यम्: brahminhood/status of a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मण्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समवाप्नुयात्: would attain
• समवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवाप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गः सम्- + अव-

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana’s Uttara-bhaga tīrtha-māhātmya passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kapāla-mocana (Tirtha)
• Vaiśvāmitra (Tirtha/associated with Sage Viśvāmitra)
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

It asserts the extraordinary purifying power (śuddhi) of specific tīrthas: a bath at Kapāla-mocana is described as capable of cleansing even the gravest sin (brahma-hatyā), highlighting tīrtha-snānā as a potent form of prāyaścitta within dharma.

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

Though framed as tīrtha-māhātmya, it supports bhakti-oriented practice indirectly: pilgrimage and sacred bathing are acts of reverence that cultivate humility and faith in dharma, preparing the devotee for higher Vishnu-bhakti through inner purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: the verse teaches tīrtha-snānā as a structured purificatory rite (prāyaścitta) with defined locations and promised results, reflecting dharma-śāstric procedure rather than grammar or astrology.