Shloka 40
Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha
कोऽपि वर्णयितुं शक्तश्चतुर्वर्गशुभौकसः । इति ते कथितं भद्रे काशीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ ४० ॥
ko'pi varṇayituṃ śaktaścaturvargaśubhaukasaḥ | iti te kathitaṃ bhadre kāśīmāhātmyamuttamam || 40 ||
Kaum jemand vermag Kāśī vollständig zu schildern—jene glückverheißende Wohnstatt, die die vier Lebensziele des Menschen gewährt. So, o edle Frau, habe ich dir dieses höchste Kāśī-māhātmya berichtet.
A narrator-sage (within the Kashi Mahatmya dialogue), addressing a female listener (bhadre)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames Kāśī as a uniquely potent tīrtha—an auspicious abode capable of granting all four puruṣārthas—and marks the formal conclusion of the Kāśī-māhātmya narration.
By praising Kāśī as “supreme” and “auspicious,” the verse encourages faith-filled listening (śravaṇa) and reverent remembrance of the tīrtha’s glory—common bhakti modes through which merit and spiritual uplift are gained.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught; the practical takeaway is tīrtha-māhātmya praxis—hearing and transmitting the greatness of sacred places as a dharma-supporting discipline.