Shloka 7

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

गत्वा तत्र महादेवो ब्रह्माणं जगतां गुरुम् । नमस्कृत्य स्थितो ह्यग्रे वेदपाठं निशामयन् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

gatvā tatra mahādevo brahmāṇaṃ jagatāṃ gurum | namaskṛtya sthito hyagre vedapāṭhaṃ niśāmayan || 7 ||

Translation

Having gone there, Mahādeva approached Brahmā, the guru of the worlds. After bowing to him, he stood before him, listening attentively to the recitation of the Vedas.

Word by Word

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• गुरुम्: teacher; preceptor
• गुरुम्: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्माणम्’ इति समानाधिकरण-विशेषणम्

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस्-√कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा/ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• स्थितः: stood
• स्थितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘stood/was standing’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधानार्थे

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् ‘in front’

• वेदपाठम्: recitation of the Veda
• वेदपाठम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + पाठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य पाठः)

• निशामयन्: listening; observing
• निशामयन्: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-शम्/नि-शाम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महादेवः’ इति विशेषणरूपेण

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Brahma
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It highlights maryādā (sacred propriety): even Mahādeva honors Brahmā as jagad-guru and practices śravaṇa by attentively hearing Veda-pāṭha, showing that reverence and listening to śruti are central to dharma.

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

Bhakti here appears as humility and attentive hearing: bowing (namaskāra) and śravaṇa (listening) are foundational devotional acts that purify the mind and align the devotee with śāstra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Veda-pāṭha (correct recitation), pointing toward Śikṣā (phonetics/pronunciation) as a practical Vedāṅga essential for preserving and transmitting Vedic sound accurately.