Shloka 41
The Greatness of Avimukta (Kāśī/Vārāṇasī) and the Doctrine of Liberation-in-One-Life
अन्यत्र योगज्ञानाभ्यां संन्यासादथवान्यतः । प्राप्यते तत्परं स्थानं सहस्रेणैव जन्मनाम्
anyatra yogajñānābhyāṃ saṃnyāsādathavānyataḥ | prāpyate tatparaṃ sthānaṃ sahasreṇaiva janmanām
وإلا—سواءٌ باليوغا والمعرفة الروحية، أو بالزهد والتجرّد (سَنْياسا)، أو بغير ذلك—فإن المقام الأسمى لا يُنال إلا بعد ألف ولادة.
Unspecified (narrative voice not provided in the excerpt)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संन्यासादथवा = संन्यासात् + अथवा (त् + अ → द); अथवान्यतः = अथवा + अन्यतः (स्वर-सन्धि); सहस्रेणैव = सहस्रेण + एव (स्वर-सन्धि)।
FAQs
It states that attaining the supreme state/abode through general spiritual disciplines (yoga, knowledge, renunciation, or other means) is typically portrayed as requiring a very long span—symbolically “a thousand births.”
No. It acknowledges these paths but emphasizes their difficulty or long timescale for reaching the highest goal when pursued “otherwise,” i.e., apart from a specially efficacious means implied by the surrounding context.
Perseverance and seriousness in practice: the highest spiritual attainment is not trivial, and one should commit steadily to a path rather than expecting immediate results.