Shloka 4

Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ

Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation

Devanagari script

पञ्चकोशीति विख्याता काशी सर्वातिवल्लभा । व्याप्तं च सकलं ह्येतत्तज्जलं विश्वतो गतम्

Transliteration

pañcakośīti vikhyātā kāśī sarvātivallabhā | vyāptaṃ ca sakalaṃ hyetattajjalaṃ viśvato gatam

Translation

Kāśī, renowned as the Pañcakośī, is supremely beloved above all. Truly, this entire region is pervaded by Śiva’s sanctity, and its sacred waters spread in every direction, reaching throughout the world.

Word by Word

• pañcakośī: (the place) called ‘Pañcakośī’
• pañcakośī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca + kośī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (pañca-kośī)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-इत्यादि अव्यय; quotative particle (उद्धरणसूचक)

• vikhyātā: renowned, known as
• vikhyātā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + khyā (धातु) → vikhyāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘renowned/called’

• kāśī: Kāśī
• kāśī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sarvātivallabhā: most beloved of all
• sarvātivallabhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + ati + vallabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/अव्ययपूर्वपद (ati-vallabhā) with sarva- intensifier

• vyāptam: pervaded, filled
• vyāptam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + āp (धातु) → vyāpta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicative ‘pervaded’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• sakalam: entire
• sakalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘entire’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (sandhi-split from etat-tat-jalam)

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• viśvataḥ: everywhere, on all sides
• viśvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘from all sides/everywhere’

• gatam: gone, spread
• gatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘gone/spread’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is praised as Śiva’s most प्रिय क्षेत्र; the Pañcakośī-kṣetra is described as pervaded by Śiva’s sanctity, with its tīrtha-waters and merit radiating universally—an idiom for the inexhaustible kṣetra-māhātmya of Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha.

Significance: Pañcakośī-yātrā and Kāśī-vāsa are extolled as exceptionally grace-bearing: purification of pāśa (bondage), intensification of bhakti, and eligibility for Śiva’s anugraha (often framed as liberation in Kāśī).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashi

FAQs

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

It proclaims Kāśī as the Pañcakośī—Śiva’s most cherished sacred field—whose sanctity pervades the whole region, indicating that contact with Kāśī (and its tīrtha-waters) powerfully supports purification and liberation-oriented devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By praising Kāśī’s all-pervading holiness and its waters’ far-reaching merit, the verse frames Kāśī as a prime kṣetra for Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-darśana, abhiṣeka, and tīrtha-sevā—where Śiva’s grace is considered readily accessible.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake Pañcakośī-yātrā with Linga-darśana and abhiṣeka using tīrtha-water, while maintaining japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a devotional, purity-focused discipline.