Shloka 40

The Greatness of Kāśī (Avimukta): Pilgrimage Calendar, Yātrā-Dharma, and the Network of Śiva-Liṅgas

Devanagari script

तत्र सिद्धिं परां प्राप्तो देवाचार्यो बृहस्पतिः । ॐकारं तत्र विज्ञेयं ब्रह्मणः पदमव्ययम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

tatra siddhiṃ parāṃ prāpto devācāryo bṛhaspatiḥ | oṃkāraṃ tatra vijñeyaṃ brahmaṇaḥ padamavyayam || 40 ||

Translation

അവിടെ ദേവഗുരു ബൃഹസ്പതി പരമസിദ്ധി പ്രാപിച്ചു. അവിടെ ഓംകാരത്തെ ബ്രഹ്മത്തിന്റെ അവ്യയ പദം—പരമാവസ്ഥ—എന്ന് അറിയണം.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सिद्धिम्: attainment/perfection
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पराम्: supreme
• पराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सिद्धिम्)

• प्राप्तः: having attained
• प्राप्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle in sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि—'having attained'

• देव-आचार्यः: teacher of the gods
• देव-आचार्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् आचार्यः)

• बृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ॐकारम्: Oṃkāra
• ॐकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ॐकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• विज्ञेयम्: is to be understood
• विज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/य-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विध्यर्थः—'is to be known'

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman/of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• पदम्: state/abode/word
• पदम्: Samanaadhikarana/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पदम्)

Speaker

Narada (narratorial voice within the Purana tradition; exact dialogue speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati
• Om (Pranava)
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It identifies Oṃ (Praṇava) as the imperishable “pada” (supreme state/abode) of Brahman and presents Bṛhaspati’s attainment as a model of highest spiritual success linked to that realization.

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

While phrased in jñāna language (Brahman, imperishable abode), it supports bhakti-practice by centering sacred sound (Oṃ) as a contemplative focus; in Purāṇic devotion, Oṃ commonly frames mantra-japa and worship, aligning devotion with realization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and śikṣā (phonetics) are implied: correct understanding and recitation of Praṇava (Oṃkāra) is treated as foundational for spiritual discipline and higher realization.