Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

एतानि पुण्यस्थानानि त्रैलोक्ये विश्रुतानि ह । न यास्यंति परं तत्त्वं वाराणस्यां यथा मृताः

Transliteration

etāni puṇyasthānāni trailokye viśrutāni ha | na yāsyaṃti paraṃ tattvaṃ vārāṇasyāṃ yathā mṛtāḥ

Translation

ಈ ಪുണ್ಯಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳು ತ್ರಿಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ; ಆದರೆ ವಾರಾಣಸಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೇಹತ್ಯಾಗ ಮಾಡಿದವರಂತೆ ಪರಮ ತತ್ತ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ಕರೆದೊಯ್ಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

Word by Word

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम-विशेषणम्

• पुण्यस्थानानि: holy places
• पुण्यस्थानानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यस्थान (प्रातिपदिक: पुण्य + स्थान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यस्य स्थानानि)

• त्रैलोक्ये: in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक: त्रि + लोक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः लोकाः यस्मिन्)

• विश्रुतानि: well-known; renowned
• विश्रुतानि: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + श्रु (धातु) → विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययः

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निपातः; emphasis/indeed (खल्वर्थे)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• यास्यन्ति: will go; will attain
• यास्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) (गत्यर्थक) → यास्य (भविष्यत्-धातु-आदेशः)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Future), परस्मैपदम् (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• परम्: supreme; highest
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्

• तत्त्वम्: reality; true principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); नगर-नाम

• यथा: as; just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उपमान/तुलना-वाचक (comparative particle)

• मृताः: the dead (those who died)
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृ (धातु) → मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (Past Passive Participle used substantively), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 33; speaker not stated in the provided excerpt).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: यास्यंति (IAST yāsyaṃti) is standardly यास्यन्ति; anusvāra represents nt-cluster in some editions.

Characters & Entities

• Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)

FAQs

What is the main claim of this verse about sacred places (tīrthas)?

It states that many holy places are famous across the three worlds, but they do not confer realization of the supreme Reality as effectively as dying in Vārāṇasī (Kāśī).

What does “paraṃ tattvaṃ” mean in this context?

“Paraṃ tattvaṃ” refers to the highest metaphysical truth—ultimate Reality or supreme principle—implying liberation-oriented realization rather than merely earning merit.

What ethical or practical lesson does the verse suggest for pilgrims?

It implies a hierarchy of sacred efficacy: pilgrimage and merit are valued, but the tradition portrayed here elevates Kāśī as uniquely oriented toward final liberation, encouraging devotion and liberation-focused practice over merit alone.