Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा देवदेवेशं विष्णुं सर्वगतं द्विज । ननाम शिरसा नम्रो निष्प्रभो वृषभध्वजः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā devadeveśaṃ viṣṇuṃ sarvagataṃ dvija | nanāma śirasā namro niṣprabho vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ || 15 ||

Translation

Wahai brāhmaṇa, tatkala melihat Viṣṇu—Tuhan para dewa, Yang meliputi segala—Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Śiva), dalam kerendahan hati dan hilang sinar lamanya, menunduk menyembah dengan kepala.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having seen’

• देवदेवेशम्: Lord of the gods
• देवदेवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानां देवस्य ईशः/देवदेवानाम् ईशः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• सर्वगतम्: all-pervading
• सर्वगतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + गत (गम्-धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सर्वं गतः = all-pervading; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; विशेषण (of Viṣṇu)

• द्विज: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th) एकवचन

• ननाम: bowed
• ननाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd) एकवचन; करण

• नम्रः: humbled
• नम्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st) एकवचन; विशेषण

• निष्प्रभः: lusterless / powerless
• निष्प्रभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निस् + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st) एकवचन; विशेषण; उपसर्गपूर्वक (निस्-)

• वृषभध्वजः: the one with the bull-banner (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वृषभस्य ध्वजः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st) एकवचन (शिवः)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers in the Uttara-Bhaga dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva (Vrsabhadhvaja)

FAQs

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

It highlights humility before the all-pervading Supreme (Viṣṇu): even Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Śiva) bows, teaching that true spiritual stature is shown through reverence and surrender to the highest reality.

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

Bhakti is expressed through direct reverence—seeing the Lord and bowing with humility (namratā). The verse models śaraṇāgati (surrender) as an immediate, embodied act of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is not a technical Vedāṅga instruction; its practical takeaway is ritual-devotional conduct (upacāra): darśana of the deity followed by praṇāma (bowing), a standard act in Purāṇic worship practice.