Shloka 32

The Greatness of Avimukta (Kāśī/Vārāṇasī) and the Doctrine of Liberation-in-One-Life

Devanagari script

तेषां तत्परमं ज्ञानं ददाम्यंते परं पदम् । प्रयागं नैमिषारण्यं श्रीशैलोऽथ महाबलम्

Transliteration

teṣāṃ tatparamaṃ jñānaṃ dadāmyaṃte paraṃ padam | prayāgaṃ naimiṣāraṇyaṃ śrīśailo'tha mahābalam

Translation

À eux, j’accorde cette connaissance suprême et, à la fin, l’état le plus élevé. Je proclame aussi Prayāga, Naimiṣāraṇya et Śrīśaila, lieux saints d’une grande puissance.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• tat-paramam: that supreme
• tat-paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक) + parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (तत् एव परमम्)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• dadāmi: I give
• dadāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन (1st sg)

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (Locative singular)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (padam)

• padam: state/abode/goal
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• prayāgam: Prayāga
• prayāgam: Karma (कर्म/उद्देश्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); स्थाननाम (place-name)

• naimiṣa-āraṇyam: Naimiṣa forest
• naimiṣa-āraṇyam: Karma (कर्म/उद्देश्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naimiṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + āraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नैमिषस्य आरण्यम्)

• śrī-śailaḥ: Śrīśaila (sacred mountain)
• śrī-śailaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रियः शैलः / श्रीयुक्तः शैलः)

• atha: and/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/and)

• mahā-balam: great strength/mighty (place/thing)
• mahā-balam: Karma (कर्म/उद्देश्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महद् बलम्)

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatparamaṃ = tat + paramam; dadāmyaṃte = dadāmi + ante; śrīśailo'tha = śrīśailaḥ + atha.

Characters & Entities

• Prayāga
• Naimiṣāraṇya
• Śrīśaila

FAQs

What does this verse convey about attaining the “highest state” (paraṃ padam)?

It links spiritual culmination with the bestowal of “supreme knowledge” (parama-jñāna), implying liberation or the highest spiritual attainment as the final outcome.

Why are Prayāga, Naimiṣāraṇya, and Śrīśaila mentioned together?

They are presented as exceptionally efficacious tīrthas/kshetras in the Purāṇic sacred geography, serving as exemplars of places associated with heightened merit and spiritual benefit.

What ethical or practical lesson can a reader take from this verse?

It encourages seeking transformative knowledge and aligning one’s life with sacred practices—often including pilgrimage, devotion, and disciplined conduct—aimed at ultimate spiritual elevation.