Shloka 11

The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power

Devanagari script

यः सेवतेऽनिशं काशीं मुक्तिदां वैष्णवीं पुरीम् । याचयित्वा हरेः क्षेत्रं स्थितो देवः सनातनः ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ sevate'niśaṃ kāśīṃ muktidāṃ vaiṣṇavīṃ purīm | yācayitvā hareḥ kṣetraṃ sthito devaḥ sanātanaḥ || 11 ||

Translation

ఎవడు నిత్యం కాశీని సేవిస్తాడో—ముక్తిని ప్రసాదించే వైష్ణవీ పురి—అది హరి క్షేత్రమని యాచించి సనాతన దేవుడు అక్కడే నివసిస్తున్నాడు.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• सेवते: serves/worships
• सेवते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अनिशम्: constantly
• अनिशम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनिशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• काशीम्: Kāśī
• काशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मुक्ति-दाम्: granting liberation
• मुक्ति-दाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मुक्तिं ददातीति); विशेषणम् (काशीम्/पुरीम्)

• वैष्णवीम्: Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पुरीम्)

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• याचयित्वा: having requested
• याचयित्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund, ल्यप्/क्त्वा), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having requested)

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्षेत्रम्: sacred field/holy place
• क्षेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्थितः: having remained/being stationed
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोग (as adjective to devaḥ)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देवः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Kashi Mahatmya context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Kashi
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Sanatana Deva (the Eternal Lord)

FAQs

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

It declares Kāśī as a Vaiṣṇava mokṣa-purī: sustained service to Kāśī is spiritually potent because it is affirmed as Hari’s own kṣetra where the Eternal Lord is established, making liberation a natural fruit of devotion there.

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

Bhakti is expressed as continuous sevā (’niśaṃ sevate)—steady worshipful service directed to a sacred place identified with Hari; the verse links pilgrimage and place-based devotion to direct relationship with Viṣṇu (Hari-kṣetra).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kṣetra-dharma (rules and sacred geography of tīrthas) rather than a technical Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is the Purāṇic application of dharma through tīrtha-sevā—regular worship, residence, and pilgrimage discipline in Hari’s kṣetra.