Shloka 66

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रं वाराणसीनाम मुक्तिदं प्राणिनां भुवि । अविमुक्तेश्वरं तत्र जीवन्मुक्तं प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

kṣetraṃ vārāṇasīnāma muktidaṃ prāṇināṃ bhuvi | avimukteśvaraṃ tatra jīvanmuktaṃ prakīrtitam || 66 ||

Translation

ഭൂമിയിൽ വാരാണസീ എന്ന പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രം ജീവികൾക്ക് മോക്ഷം നൽകുന്നതാണ്. അവിടെ അവിമുക്തേശ്വരനെ ദേഹത്തിൽ തന്നെയിരിക്കെ മോചിതൻ—ജീവന്മുക്തൻ—എന്ന് കീർത്തിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• क्षेत्रम्: sacred field/holy region
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाराणसीनाम्: of (the people/places called) Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मुक्तिदम्: granting liberation
• मुक्तिदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + द (प्रातिपदिक; द = दा-धातु-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपपद): मुक्तिं ददाति इति

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अविमुक्तेश्वरम्: Avimukteśvara (Lord of Avimukta)
• अविमुक्तेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्त + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): अविमुक्तस्य ईश्वरः

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• जीवन्मुक्तम्: liberated while living
• जीवन्मुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास: जीवन् एव मुक्तः

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed/declared
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारार्थे कर्मणि प्रयोगः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तवत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (prakīrtitam = 'is proclaimed')

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Varanasi
• Avimukteshvara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It declares Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) as a uniquely liberating tirtha on earth and highlights Avimukteśvara as the emblem of jīvanmukti—freedom attainable even before the body falls.

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

By praising Avimukteśvara and the sanctity of Kāśī, it points to devotion and surrender at a sacred seat of the Lord as a direct support for liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes tirtha-mahātmya and kṣetra-dharma (pilgrimage theology and sacred geography), guiding practical religious conduct such as visiting holy sites and worship of the presiding deity.