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 ||
ଏହି କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ବସୁଥିବା ସୁକୃତୀ ହରିଭକ୍ତମାନେ—ଶୁଚି ଓ ସନ୍ତ ହୋଇ ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ଆଦରରେ ଶ୍ରୀହରିଙ୍କ ଦର୍ଶନ କରନ୍ତି (ଶମ୍ଭୁଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ମଧ୍ୟ ସମପବିତ୍ର ଭାବେ ଗଣ୍ୟ)—ସେମାନେ ମର୍ତ୍ୟଜୀବନରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭୟ, ଦୁଃଖ ଓ ପାପରହିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି। ସେମାନଙ୍କ କର୍ମକ୍ରିୟା ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ହୁଏ, ଏବଂ ପୁନର୍ଜନ୍ମଜନିତ ବନ୍ଧନଜାଲର ଘନତାକୁ ଭେଦି ପରମ ମୋକ୍ଷ ପାଆନ୍ତି।
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.