Shloka 17
The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power
क्षेत्रेऽस्मिन्निवसंति ये सुकृतिनो भक्ता हरौ वा हरे पश्यंतोऽन्वहमादरेण शुचयः संतः समाः शंभुना । ते मर्त्यां भयदुःखपापरहिताः संशुद्धकर्मक्रिया भित्वा संभवबंधजालगहनं विंदंति मोक्षं परम् ॥ १७ ॥
kṣetre'sminnivasaṃti ye sukṛtino bhaktā harau vā hare paśyaṃto'nvahamādareṇa śucayaḥ saṃtaḥ samāḥ śaṃbhunā | te martyāṃ bhayaduḥkhapāparahitāḥ saṃśuddhakarmakriyā bhitvā saṃbhavabaṃdhajālagahanaṃ viṃdaṃti mokṣaṃ param || 17 ||
Mereka yang beramal dan tinggal di kṣetra suci ini—para bhakta kepada Hari (Viṣṇu)—yang suci dan saleh, memandang-Nya setiap hari dengan penuh hormat (hingga Śambhu pun menganggap mereka setara dalam kesucian), terbebas daripada takut, duka dan dosa walau masih hidup sebagai insan. Amalan ritual dan perilaku mereka disucikan; dan dengan menembusi rimba ikatan kelahiran-berulang, mereka mencapai mokṣa yang tertinggi.
Narada (teaching within a Tirtha-Mahatmya discourse in Uttara-Bhaga)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that living in a holy kṣetra with steady devotion and daily reverent darśana of Hari purifies one’s life, removes fear-sorrow-sin, and ultimately cuts through the bondage of repeated birth, culminating in supreme mokṣa.
Bhakti here is expressed as continuous, reverent daily beholding of Hari while maintaining purity and saintly conduct; this sustained devotion is presented as powerful enough to purify karma and break saṁsāric bondage.
The verse emphasizes karma-kriyā (disciplined ritual action and conduct) becoming saṁśuddha (purified) through devotion and kṣetra-vāsa; it points to correct practice and inner purity rather than technical Vedāṅga details like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.