Shloka 37
The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power
सर्वात्मना तपः सत्यं प्राणिनां नात्र संशयः । अविमुक्तेवसेद्यस्तु स तु साक्षान्महेश्वरः ॥ ३७ ॥
sarvātmanā tapaḥ satyaṃ prāṇināṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | avimuktevasedyastu sa tu sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ || 37 ||
Pour les êtres vivants, l'austérité entreprise de tout son être est vraiment efficace, sans aucun doute. Mais quiconque demeure à Avimukta est, en vérité, Maheshvara Lui-même sous forme visible.
Suta (narrating the Avimukta Mahatmya within the Narada Purana tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates Avimukta (Kāśī) as a uniquely liberating tirtha: while wholehearted tapas is affirmed as powerful for all beings, residence in Avimukta is portrayed as direct proximity to Maheshvara—equal to encountering Śiva manifestly.
By identifying the Avimukta-dweller with Maheshvara, the verse emphasizes place-centered devotion (kshetra-bhakti): living with reverence in Śiva’s sacred domain becomes a devotional act that brings the devotee into immediate relationship with the deity.
No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway aligns with Kalpa-style dharma: the discipline of tapas and the observance of tirtha-residence (kshetra-vāsa) as a recognized religious practice.