Shloka 44

The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power

Devanagari script

एकाहारस्तु यस्तिष्ठेन्मासं तत्र शुभानने । यावज्जीवकृतं पापं मासेनैकेन नश्यति ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

ekāhārastu yastiṣṭhenmāsaṃ tatra śubhānane | yāvajjīvakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ māsenaikena naśyati || 44 ||

Translation

Ô toi au visage gracieux, quiconque demeure là un mois en ne prenant qu’un seul repas par jour—les péchés accumulés durant toute sa vie sont détruits en ce seul mois.

Word by Word

• एकाहारः: one who takes a single meal (once-a-day eater)
• एकाहारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘एकः आहारः’ / ‘एकवारम् आहारः’ (single meal)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थक

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• तिष्ठेत्: should stay
• तिष्ठेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Kaaladhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time-extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• शुभानने: O fair-faced one
• शुभानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘शुभम् आननं यस्याः/यत्र’ (O fair-faced one) संबोधनार्थे सप्तमी-प्रयोगः (vocative sense in locative)

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-सूचक (as long as)

• जीवकृतम्: done by (one) in life
• जीवकृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त, √कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘जीवेन कृतम्’ (done by the living being)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मासेन: by (means of) a month
• मासेन: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• एकेन: by one (single)
• एकेन: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘मासेन’ विशेषण

• नश्यति: perishes/is destroyed
• नश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a tirtha/vrata-mahatmya narration; vocative addressed to a listener described as śubhānane)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (month-long ekāhāra-niyama within kshetra-vāsa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents ekāhāra (one-meal discipline) sustained for a month at the prescribed sacred setting as a powerful prayāścitta (purificatory atonement) capable of dissolving lifelong pāpa through sustained self-restraint and sacred residence.

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

By emphasizing disciplined living (niyama) in a holy context, the verse supports Bhakti indirectly: bodily restraint and simplicity steady the mind, making remembrance and worship more continuous and sincere, which is central to Purāṇic devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual discipline and vrata-niyamas (practical dharma). While not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with Kalpa-style observance principles—time-bound vows, regulated diet, and prescribed conduct at a sacred site.