Shloka 14

The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power

Devanagari script

इदं गुह्यतमं क्षेत्रं सर्वप्राणिसुखावहम् । मोक्षदं सर्वजंतूनां वैष्णवं शैवमेव च ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

idaṃ guhyatamaṃ kṣetraṃ sarvaprāṇisukhāvaham | mokṣadaṃ sarvajaṃtūnāṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ śaivameva ca || 14 ||

Translation

This sacred pilgrimage-site is most secret in its inner greatness and brings happiness to all living beings. It grants liberation to all creatures, and it is both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva in nature.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• गुह्यतमम्: most secret
• गुह्यतमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तमप्-प्रत्यय (superlative)

• क्षेत्रम्: holy place
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्व-प्राणि-सुख-आवहम्: bringing happiness to all beings
• सर्व-प्राणि-सुख-आवहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राणि (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां प्राणिनां सुखम् आवहति); विशेषणम् (क्षेत्रम्)

• मोक्षदम्: granting liberation
• मोक्षदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मोक्षं ददाति); विशेषणम् (क्षेत्रम्)

• सर्व-जन्तूनाम्: of all creatures
• सर्व-जन्तूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सर्वे जन्तवः)

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (क्षेत्रम्)

• शैवम्: Śaiva
• शैवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (क्षेत्रम्)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya setting; traditional dialogue stream with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares a particular kṣetra to be supremely sacred—capable of giving universal well-being (sukha) and the highest fruit, mokṣa—showing that tirtha-sevā can culminate in liberation.

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

By calling the kṣetra both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva, it frames devotion as inclusive—honoring Viṣṇu and Śiva without sectarian conflict—so the pilgrim’s bhakti becomes single-pointed toward the Supreme through reverence expressed at the holy site.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it points to Tīrtha-yātrā and kṣetra-dharma as applied religious practice; while no specific Vedāṅga is named, the verse supports ritual and observance frameworks typically guided by Kalpa (procedure) and Dharmaśāstra norms in pilgrimage contexts.