Shloka 20

Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)

Devanagari script

इयं च शुभदा लोके कर्म नाशकरी मता । मोक्षप्रकाशिका काशी ज्ञानदा मम सुप्रिया

Transliteration

iyaṃ ca śubhadā loke karma nāśakarī matā | mokṣaprakāśikā kāśī jñānadā mama supriyā

Translation

“This Kāśī is auspicious in the world and is held to destroy the bonds of karma. Kāśī illumines the way of mokṣa, bestows true knowledge, and is exceedingly dear to Me.”

Word by Word

• इयम्: this (she/this place)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुभदा: bestowing auspiciousness
• शुभदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of इयम्/काशी)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• कर्म: karma
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object within compound sense)

• नाशकरी: destroying (karma)
• नाशकरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाश + करिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of इयम्/काशी): ‘destroyer of karma’

• मता: is regarded
• मता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘is considered/held (to be)’

• मोक्षप्रकाशिका: revealing liberation
• मोक्षप्रकाशिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष + प्रकाशिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of काशी)

• काशी: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• काशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• ज्ञानदा: granting knowledge
• ज्ञानदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of काशी)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• सुप्रिया: very dear
• सुप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of काशी): ‘very dear’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (addressing the listener within the Kotirudra narrative on the Jyotirlinga/pilgrimage glory)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī (Avimukta) is proclaimed by Śiva as His most beloved kṣetra: it destroys karmic bondage, illumines mokṣa, and grants jñāna—hence it is the paradigmatic ‘anugraha-sthāna’ where pāśa is weakened and release is made accessible.

Significance: Merit of residence, darśana, and death in Kāśī; performance of Pañcakrośī-yātrā and worship of Viśvanātha is said to hasten liberation and confer jñāna.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kṣetra as a ‘mokṣa-prakāśa’ zone within saṃsāra—grace breaking karmic continuity

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashi

FAQs

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

The verse declares Kāśī as a Shaiva mokṣa-kṣetra: it purifies and dissolves binding karma, awakens liberating knowledge (jñāna), and thus “illumines” the path to release under Shiva’s grace (Pati’s anugraha).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Kotirudra context, sacred places and Jyotirlinga-centered worship are Saguna pathways where Shiva is approached through form, shrine, and kṣetra; Kāśī is praised as especially effective for turning devotion into jñāna that culminates in mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Kāśī-vāsa or pilgrimage with Shiva-bhakti: Linga-darśana, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and contemplation on karma’s dissolution leading to jñāna and liberation.