Shloka 54
The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification
इच्छामि वसितुं क्षेत्रे तव चक्रगदाधर । त्वत्क्षेत्रसीमाबाह्यस्था ब्रह्महत्या यदीक्ष्यते ॥ ५४ ॥
icchāmi vasituṃ kṣetre tava cakragadādhara | tvatkṣetrasīmābāhyasthā brahmahatyā yadīkṣyate || 54 ||
O Träger von Diskus und Keule, ich wünsche in deinem heiligen Kṣetra zu wohnen; denn wenn die Sünde des Brahmanenmordes außerhalb der Grenze deines heiligen Bezirks gesehen wird, (so lass mich innerhalb bleiben).
A personified sin (Brahmahatyā) addressing Vishnu (Cakragadādhara) within a Tirtha-Mahatmya narrative
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)
Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)
FAQs
It highlights kṣetra-māhātmya: the sacred precinct of Vishnu is portrayed as so purifying that even brahmahatyā is kept outside its boundary, emphasizing the protective and cleansing power of a Vishnu-kṣetra.
By addressing Vishnu as Cakragadādhara and centering salvation on proximity to His kṣetra, the verse frames devotion as seeking refuge (āśraya) in the Lord’s domain—where His presence repels grave impurity.
It reflects ritual geography used in Dharma/kalpa practice: the concept of kṣetra-sīmā (boundary of a sacred area) that determines where purity rules apply and where expiatory disciplines (prāyaścitta) are considered effective.