Shloka 76

Glory of Nīla Mountain and the Prelude to King Ratnagrīva’s Legend

Devanagari script

वाराणसी मया दृष्टा विश्वनाथकृतालया । यत्रोपदिशते मंत्रं तारकं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्

Transliteration

vārāṇasī mayā dṛṣṭā viśvanāthakṛtālayā | yatropadiśate maṃtraṃ tārakaṃ brahmasaṃjñitam

Translation

ഞാൻ വാരാണസീ ദർശിച്ചു; അത് വിശ്വനാഥൻ സ്ഥാപിച്ച ധാമമാണ്. അവിടെ ബ്രഹ്മസഞ്ജ്ഞിതമായ താരകമന്ത്രം ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• वाराणसी: Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसी: Karma (कर्म) / Pradhana (प्रधान) with 'दृष्टा' (seen as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्टा: was seen
• दृष्टा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि (was seen)

• विश्वनाथकृतालया: having a shrine/abode made by Viśvanātha
• विश्वनाथकृतालया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वनाथ + कृत + आलय (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (विश्वनाथेन कृतः आलयः यस्याः सा) — used adjectivally for 'वाराणसी'

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb/relative)

• उपदिशते: teaches/instructs
• उपदिशते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तारकम्: saving/liberating
• तारकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् to 'मन्त्रम्'

• ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्: called ‘Brahman’
• ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक; संज्ञित = संज्ञा-धात्वर्थक क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः संज्ञा यस्य) / 'called Brahman'; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त used adjectivally to 'मन्त्रम्'

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context likely within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue of the Pātālakhaṇḍa).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्रोपदिशते = यत्र + उपदिशते; विश्वनाथकृतालया = विश्वनाथ + कृत + आलया; ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम् = ब्रह्म + संज्ञितम्

Characters & Entities

• Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)
• Viśvanātha (Śiva)
• Tāraka-mantra
• Brahman

FAQs

What does this verse indicate about Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) in the Padma Purāṇa?

It presents Vārāṇasī as a uniquely sacred place associated with Viśvanātha (Śiva), marked by the imparting of the liberating ‘Tāraka’ mantra.

What is the ‘Tāraka mantra’ mentioned here?

It is a ‘saving/crossing-over’ mantra traditionally linked with Kāśī and liberation at the time of death; the verse further characterizes it as ‘brahma-saṃjñita’—known as Brahman.

What ethical or spiritual lesson does this verse convey?

It underscores the importance of seeking authentic spiritual instruction (upadeśa) and venerating sacred spaces where liberating knowledge and mantra are transmitted.