Shloka 22

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

सम्प्राप्य काशीं दुष्प्रापाम्ब्रह्मनारायणादिभिः । महासंवर्त्तसन्तापहन्त्रीं विश्वेशपालिताम्

Transliteration

samprāpya kāśīṃ duṣprāpāmbrahmanārāyaṇādibhiḥ | mahāsaṃvarttasantāpahantrīṃ viśveśapālitām

Translation

Having reached Kāśī—so difficult to attain even for Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa, and the other gods—they beheld that sacred city which destroys the scorching anguish of the great cosmic dissolution, and which is protected by Viśveśa (Lord Śiva).

Word by Word

• सम्प्राप्य: having reached
• सम्प्राप्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having reached/attained’

• काशीम्: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• काशीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• दुष्प्रापाम्: hard to attain
• दुष्प्रापाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to Kāśī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष् + प्राप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—दुष्टेन/दुर्लभतया प्राप्यते इति

• ब्रह्म-नारायण-आदिभिः: by Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa, and others
• ब्रह्म-नारायण-आदिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + नारायण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः—ब्रह्मन् च नारायणः च (आदयः)

• महासंवर्त्त-सन्ताप-हन्त्रीम्: destroyer of the torment of the great dissolution
• महासंवर्त्त-सन्ताप-हन्त्रीम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to Kāśī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महासंवर्त्त + सन्ताप + हन्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—महासंवर्त्तस्य सन्तापस्य हन्त्री

• विश्वेश-पालिताम्: protected by Viśveśa (Śiva)
• विश्वेश-पालिताम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to Kāśī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वेश + पालित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त) ‘पालित’; समासः—विश्वेशेन पालिता

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is portrayed as the hard-to-attain city guarded by Viśveśa/Viśvanātha; it grants refuge even at mahā-saṃvarta (cosmic dissolution), functioning as a salvific kṣetra where Śiva bestows taraka-upadeśa and liberation.

Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha in Kāśī is said to remove the saṃvarta-santāpa (existential/cosmic anguish) and confer mokṣa through Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: mahā-saṃvarta (great cosmic dissolution) referenced as the existential backdrop that Kāśī transcends

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Vishveshvara

FAQs

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

The verse proclaims Kāśī as a Śiva-protected liberation-field where the pains of even cosmic dissolution are dispelled—pointing to Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants release to bound souls through His grace.

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

By naming Viśveśa as the guardian of Kāśī, the verse highlights Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord worshipped in the form of Viśveśvara (Linga), through whom devotees seek purification and moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests pilgrimage and steady devotion to Viśveśvara in Kāśī—especially japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused remembrance of Śiva as the liberating protector.