Shloka 61

Tīrtha-yātrā-varṇana

Description of Pilgrimage to the Sacred Fords

Devanagari script

पंचषष्टिसमाः संध्या तेन चोपासिता भवेत् । पुरीं वाराणसीं तां तु श्मशानं चाविमुक्तकम् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcaṣaṣṭisamāḥ saṃdhyā tena copāsitā bhavet | purīṃ vārāṇasīṃ tāṃ tu śmaśānaṃ cāvimuktakam || 61 ||

Translation

بالنسبة له تُعَدُّ عبادة السَّندْهيا (Sandhyā) التي أُدِّيَت طوال خمسٍ وستين سنةً كأنها قد أُنجِزت على الوجه التام. وتلك المدينة، فاراناسي (Vārāṇasī)، تُحسَب حقًّا محرقةً مقدَّسة تُدعى أفيمُكتا (Avimukta).

Word by Word

• पञ्चषष्टि-समाः: sixty-five (in number), lasting sixty-five years
• पञ्चषष्टि-समाः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चषष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• सन्ध्याः: twilight prayers (sandhyās)
• सन्ध्याः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

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

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उपासिता: worshipped/observed
• उपासिता: कर्मणि-विधेय (Predicate in passive/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु) → उपासित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषण

• भवेत्: would be / should be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुरीम्: the city
• पुरीम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वाराणसीम्: Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसीम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पुरीम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• ताम्: that (city)
• ताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• श्मशानम्: cremation-ground
• श्मशानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पुरीम् इति विशेष्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अविमुक्तकम्: Avimuktaka (name of the sacred place)
• अविमुक्तकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नाम (proper name/epithet)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineage; Uttara-Bhaga tirtha narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Varanasi (Kashi)
• Avimukta
• Sandhya (Sandhyavandana)
• Shmashana

FAQs

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

It equates the extraordinary sanctity of Kāśī–Avimukta with immense lifelong religious merit, portraying residence/connection with Vārāṇasī as spiritually potent—linked with liberation-oriented tirtha glory.

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

By praising Avimukta (Kāśī) as uniquely sacred, it supports pilgrimage and sacred-place devotion as a bhakti-supported discipline—where reverence, worship, and surrender in a Vishnu–Shiva sacred geography intensify spiritual progress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights Sandhyā worship (Sandhyavandana)—a daily ritual discipline tied to Vedic practice (prayoga/kalpa in Vedanga context), emphasizing consistency and time-based observance.