Shloka 62

The Greatness of Avimukta (Kāśī/Vārāṇasī) and the Doctrine of Liberation-in-One-Life

Devanagari script

यानि चेह प्रकुर्वंति पातकानि कृतालयाः । नाशयेत्तानि सर्वाणि देवः कालतनुः शिवः

Transliteration

yāni ceha prakurvaṃti pātakāni kṛtālayāḥ | nāśayettāni sarvāṇi devaḥ kālatanuḥ śivaḥ

Translation

ഈ ലോകത്ത് ദേഹത്തെ വാസസ്ഥാനമാക്കി മനുഷ്യർ ചെയ്യുന്ന ഏതു പാപങ്ങളെയും, കാലതനുവായ ഭഗവാൻ ശിവൻ എല്ലാം നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• yāni: which (sins)
• yāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun referring to pātakāni

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय): 'here (in this world)'

• prakurvanti: commit, do
• prakurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṛ (कृ धातु, 'to do/make')
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Plural (बहुवचन)

• pātakāni: sins
• pātakāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• kṛta-ālayāḥ: those who have taken up residence (there)
• kṛta-ālayāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (√kṛ धातु + kta; कृदन्त) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'kṛtaḥ ālayaḥ yeṣām' (those who have made their abode [there])

• nāśayet: destroys / should destroy
• nāśayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √naś (नश् धातु) causative (णिच्): nāśaya-
• Form: Optative/benedictive sense (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन); 'may/should destroy'

• tāni: those (sins)
• tāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); refers to pātakāni

• sarvāṇi: all
• sarvāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies tāni/pātakāni

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• kāla-tanuḥ: whose form is Time
• kāla-tanuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/उपाधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + tanu (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'kālaḥ tanuḥ yasya' (he whose body/form is Time)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to devaḥ

Speaker

Unknown (context not provided; likely within a Purāṇic dialogue narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: ca+iha → ceha; kṛta+ālayāḥ → kṛtālayāḥ; nāśayet+tāni → nāśayettāni.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

Who is described as 'kāla-tanuḥ' (whose body is Time) in this verse?

The verse applies the epithet 'kāla-tanuḥ' to Lord Śiva, presenting him as the divine principle that embodies Time and its transformative power.

What is the central teaching of this shloka?

It teaches that Lord Śiva has the power to destroy all sins committed by embodied beings in this world, emphasizing divine grace and purification.

What ethical lesson can be drawn from this verse?

While acknowledging human wrongdoing, it encourages turning toward Śiva for purification and living responsibly, recognizing Time’s power to transform and end the effects of sin.