pancakanya

[Madhav Deshpande]

This verse is also typically included in the many popular praata.hsmara.na collections of verses.  I was taught to recite it as I was growing up.
                                                        Madhav

> ----------
> From:         venkat at ciefl.ac.in
> Reply To:     Indology
> Sent:         Wednesday, February 12, 2003 2:52 PM
> To:   INDOLOGY at liverpool.ac.uk
> Subject:           pancakanya
> 
> Nearly after 40 years later I hear the pancakanya sloka.  My mother used to
> recite this before going to bed along with another (now I realize ) Sanskrit
> sloka to ward off snakes, scorpions and other harmful creatures.  The verse,
> from memory run like this:
> 
> Karakotakasya naagasya ...damayanti cha rutuparanasya
> rajarshi teerthanam kalinashanam
> 
> and then
> 
> Ahaylay draupadi kunti taara mandodari
> tatha pancakanya smare nityam mahapataknashanam
> 
> 
> These were recited five times before going to bed.
> I now realize that they have puranic sources.
> 
> D. Venkat Rao
> 
>