Shloka 56
The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power
तच्चित्तास्तद्गतप्राणा जीवन्मुक्ता न संशयः । अग्रिप्रवेशं ये कुर्युरविमुक्ते विचारतः ॥ ५६ ॥
taccittāstadgataprāṇā jīvanmuktā na saṃśayaḥ | agripraveśaṃ ye kuryuravimukte vicārataḥ || 56 ||
जिनका चित्त उसी परम तत्त्व में स्थित है और जिनके प्राण उसी में लीन हैं, वे जीवित रहते ही मुक्त हैं—इसमें संदेह नहीं। जो विवेकपूर्वक अविमुक्त में अग्नि-प्रवेश करते हैं, वे भी वही अवस्था प्राप्त करते हैं।
Suta (narrating the Avimukta-mahātmya within the Uttara-Bhaga tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It declares that unwavering absorption of mind and prāṇa in the Supreme brings jīvanmukti, and it presents Avimukta (Kāśī) as a uniquely potent setting where deliberate, discerned renunciation even unto fire-entry is linked with liberation.
Although framed in jñāna-language (“That”), the practice is bhakti-like single-pointedness: fixing the mind and life-force on the Lord/Supreme without distraction, which the Purāṇic tradition treats as the essence of surrender leading to freedom.
The verse emphasizes vicāra (discernment) before any extreme act, aligning with Dharma-śāstra reasoning and ritual propriety rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa; the practical takeaway is that sacred acts in tīrthas must be guided by informed deliberation.