Shloka 67

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

नापि दानं द्विजश्रेष्ठ मुक्त्वैकं देहपातनम् । मृत्युं प्रात्युं नरः कामं कृतकृत्यो भवेद्ध्रुवन् ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

nāpi dānaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha muktvaikaṃ dehapātanam | mṛtyuṃ prātyuṃ naraḥ kāmaṃ kṛtakṛtyo bhaveddhruvan || 67 ||

Translation

हे द्विजश्रेष्ठ, या एक देहत्यागासारखे दुसरे कोणतेही दान नाही. अशी मृत्यु प्राप्त करावी अशी इच्छा करणारा मनुष्य निश्चयच कृतकृत्य होतो.

Word by Word

नnot

अपिalso / even

दानम्gift / charity

द्विजश्रेष्ठO best of the twice-born

मुक्त्वाhaving left / excepting

एकम्one (only)

देहपातनम्falling of the body (death)

मृत्युम्death

प्राप्तुम्to attain / to reach

नरःa man

कामम्indeed / certainly

कृतकृत्यःone who has accomplished what is to be done

भवेत्would become

ध्रुवम्certainly

Speaker

Narada (teaching a dvija in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It elevates dehapātana—consciously meeting death in a sanctified, dharmic manner (typically connected with a tirtha and right intention)—as a supreme act whose fruit surpasses ordinary charity, marking life as spiritually “completed” (kṛtakṛtya).

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

While Bhakti is not named explicitly here, the idea aligns with surrender at life’s end: offering oneself (the body and final moment) to the sacred—an ultimate form of dedication that complements Vishnu-bhakti-oriented tirtha practice in the Uttara-Bhaga.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-oriented ritual sensibility—prioritizing intention, sacred context (tirtha), and disciplined conduct at antya-kāla over mere material dāna.