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

«Qu’il en soit ainsi», acquiesça le bien-aimé de Celle qui naquit de l’Océan de Lait. Dès lors, ô le meilleur des brāhmanes, ce lieu fut proclamé 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).