Shloka 53

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवद्वाक्यं भूतेशो ब्रह्यहत्यया । पीडितात्मा जगादेदं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं हरिम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

tacchrutvā bhagavadvākyaṃ bhūteśo brahyahatyayā | pīḍitātmā jagādedaṃ bhuktimuktipradaṃ harim || 53 ||

Translation

ഭഗവാന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, ബ്രഹ്മഹത്യാപാപം കൊണ്ട് പീഡിതാത്മാവായ ഭൂതേശൻ ഭുക്തിയും മുക്തിയും നൽകുന്ന ഹരിയോട് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• tat: that (it)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having heard’

• bhagavat-vākyam: the Lord’s statement
• bhagavat-vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bhagavataḥ vākyam)

• bhūta-īśaḥ: the lord of beings (Śiva)
• bhūta-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bhūtānām īśaḥ)

• brahma-hatyayā: by/with the sin of brahmin-slaying
• brahma-hatyayā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇaḥ hatyā)

• pīḍita-ātmā: afflicted (in spirit)
• pīḍita-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīḍita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pīḍ (धातु) + क्त) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (pīḍitaḥ ātmā yasya/saḥ) — ‘afflicted in self’

• jagāda: said/spoke
• jagāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• idam: this (speech)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhukti-mukti-pradam: bestowing enjoyment and liberation
• bhukti-mukti-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक) + mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार/द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष (bhuktiṃ ca muktiṃ ca pradadāti iti)

• harim: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• harim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Bhūteśa (Śiva/Rudra), addressing Hari (Viṣṇu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Bhutesha (Shiva/Rudra)
• Brahmahatya (sin of brahmin-slaying)

FAQs

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

It presents Hari (Viṣṇu) as the ultimate refuge who can grant both bhukti (rightful worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation), even to one afflicted by grave sin such as brahmahatyā.

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

The verse shows surrender: the afflicted Bhūteśa turns to Hari and addresses Him as the giver of bhukti and mukti, implying that devotion and taking refuge in the Lord is the decisive means for purification and spiritual freedom.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway aligns with Dharma-śāstra prāyaścitta logic: acknowledging pāpa (sin) and seeking prescribed purification through devotion and divine refuge; no specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly taught in this verse.