Shloka 49
The Greatness of Kāśī (Avimukta): Pilgrimage Calendar, Yātrā-Dharma, and the Network of Śiva-Liṅgas
लभते देहभेदेन गणत्वं चातिदुर्लभम् । अस्मिन्नेव प्रदेशे तु गावो वै ब्रह्मणा स्वयम् ॥ ४९ ॥
labhate dehabhedena gaṇatvaṃ cātidurlabham | asminneva pradeśe tu gāvo vai brahmaṇā svayam || 49 ||
ദേഹത്യാഗം ചെയ്താൽ അവൻ അത്യന്തം ദുർലഭമായ ഗണത്വം (ദേവഗണത്തിലെ അംഗത്വം) പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു. ഈ പ്രദേശത്തുതന്നെ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് സ്വയം പശുക്കളെ സ്ഥാപിച്ചു.
Suta (narrating the kshetra-mahatmya to the assembled sages)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It links the merit of a specific sacred region (kshetra) with an exalted post-mortem destiny—attaining gaṇatva (membership among divine attendant-hosts)—and sanctifies the place further by stating that Brahmā himself established the cows there.
In a kshetra-mahatmya setting, the verse implies that reverence to sacred places and their sanctities (such as honoring cows) supports devotional living; such dharmic devotion is presented as yielding rare spiritual attainments beyond ordinary worldly goals.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma in a tirtha context—go-sevā (care of cows), kshetra-reverence, and performing meritorious acts believed to shape one’s gati (post-death outcome).