Shloka 56
Tīrtha-yātrā-varṇana
Description of Pilgrimage to the Sacred Fords
अविमुक्तं सदा देवि यः श्रयेदीक्षया नरः । न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ॥ ५६ ॥
avimuktaṃ sadā devi yaḥ śrayedīkṣayā naraḥ | na tasya punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi || 56 ||
Wahai Dewi, siapa pun yang setelah menerima dīkṣā senantiasa berlindung pada Avimukta (Kashi), baginya tidak ada kembali ke kelahiran ulang, bahkan setelah ratusan krore kalpa.
Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga Tirtha-Mahatmya dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It declares Avimukta (Kāśī) as a mokṣa-granting kṣetra: one who takes refuge there with proper dīkṣā is said to be freed from punarāvṛtti—returning to saṃsāra—even across immense cosmic time (kalpas).
Refuge (śaraṇāgati/śraya) in a divinely protected tirtha, supported by dīkṣā, expresses committed surrender and disciplined devotion—presented here as a direct cause for liberation rather than mere merit-gathering.
The verse points to ritual discipline via dīkṣā (initiation), implying correct procedure and mantra-authorization—areas traditionally aligned with Kalpa (ritual practice) and Śikṣā (mantric recitation) in applied Vedic observance.