Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

विनश्यंतीह कर्माणि शुभान्यप्यशुभानि च । भूतव्यभविष्याणि ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतानि च ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

vinaśyaṃtīha karmāṇi śubhānyapyaśubhāni ca | bhūtavyabhaviṣyāṇi jñānājñānakṛtāni ca || 71 ||

Translation

Ici, les actes (karma) s’éteignent, favorables comme défavorables, qu’ils appartiennent au passé, au présent ou à l’avenir, et qu’ils aient été accomplis en connaissance ou dans l’ignorance.

Word by Word

• विनश्यन्ति: perish/are destroyed
• विनश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘here’

• कर्माणि: actions/deeds
• कर्माणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अत्र कर्तृपदं (विनश्यन्ति इति)

• शुभानि: good
• शुभानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्माणि इति विशेषण

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• अशुभानि: bad
• अशुभानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्माणि इति विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय निपात (conjunction)

• भूत-व्य-भविष्याणि: past and future
• भूत-व्य-भविष्याणि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + व्य (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + भविष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (भूतानि च भविष्याणि च = past and future)

• ज्ञान-अज्ञान-कृतानि: done with knowledge or ignorance
• ज्ञान-अज्ञान-कृतानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानात्/अज्ञानात् कृतानि = done knowingly or unknowingly)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It declares that karmic residues—good and bad, across all times and even those done in ignorance—can be brought to an end, pointing to purification and liberation (moksha) as the ultimate aim.

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

By emphasizing the “perishing” of karma, it aligns with the Purana’s bhakti logic: surrender and devotion to Vishnu reduce karmic bondage so the devotee is not bound by merit or sin.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects the Vedantic/Smriti framework of karma and its fruition across time; while not naming a Vedanga directly, it supports dharma-shastra reasoning used in ritual practice (kalpa) about expiation and purification.