Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

तथेति प्रतिपेदे च क्षीरसागरजाप्रियः । ततः प्रभृति विप्रेंद्र शैवं क्षेत्रं निगद्यते ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

tatheti pratipede ca kṣīrasāgarajāpriyaḥ | tataḥ prabhṛti vipreṃdra śaivaṃ kṣetraṃ nigadyate || 57 ||

Translation

«Así sea», asintió el amado de aquella que nació del Océano de Leche. Desde entonces, oh el mejor de los brāhmaṇas, este lugar ha sido proclamado como un kṣetra śaiva.

Word by Word

• tathā: so/thus
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyasaṃjñā (वाक्यसंज्ञा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• pratipede: assented/accepted
• pratipede: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; प्रति-उपसर्ग (prati + pad) — ‘assented/accepted’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kṣīra-sāgara-ja-priyaḥ: he who is dear to the Milk-ocean-born (Viṣṇu)
• kṣīra-sāgara-ja-priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + sāgara (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि — ‘he whose beloved is born from the Milk-ocean’ (Lakṣmī-priya)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (from then/thereafter)

• prabhṛti: from then on
• prabhṛti: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prabhṛti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भवाचक (from that time onward)

• vipra-indra: O best of brahmins
• vipra-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘ब्राह्मणानाम् इन्द्रः’

• śaivam: Śaiva (pertaining to Śiva)
• śaivam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• kṣetram: the holy place/field
• kṣetram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nigadyate: is called/known as
• nigadyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive) ‘is called/said’ (ni + gad)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It marks the formal sanctification of a location as a Śaiva-kṣetra—showing how divine assent establishes a tirtha’s identity and ongoing ritual authority.

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

By depicting the Lord (identified through Lakṣmī) approving a Śaiva designation, it supports inclusive bhakti: honoring Śiva’s sacred spaces as part of dharmic devotion rather than sectarian conflict.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects Nirukta-style usage of epithets (kṣīrasāgarajāpriyaḥ) and the dharmic principle of kṣetra-nāma/saṁjñā (how a place is authoritatively named and classified for pilgrimage and rites).