Shloka 31

The Greatness of Kāśī (Avimukta): Pilgrimage Calendar, Yātrā-Dharma, and the Network of Śiva-Liṅgas

Devanagari script

संस्थिता त्रिस्रोतिका च अविमुक्तेति पुण्यदा । मत्स्योदरी तु ॐकारे पुण्यदा सर्वदैव हि ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

saṃsthitā trisrotikā ca avimukteti puṇyadā | matsyodarī tu oṃkāre puṇyadā sarvadaiva hi || 31 ||

Translation

ఈ పవిత్ర ధార ‘సంస్థితా’, ‘త్రిస్రోతికా’, ‘అవిముక్తా’ అని ప్రసిద్ధి—అన్నీ పుణ్యప్రదాలు. అలాగే ఓంకార తీర్థంలో ఇది ‘మత్స్యోదరీ’ అనే నామంతో నిత్యము పుణ్యాన్ని ప్రసాదిస్తుంది॥

Word by Word

• संस्थिता: situated/established
• संस्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्था/संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘स्थित/स्थापिता’

• त्रिस्रोतिका: (the place/stream) having three channels
• त्रिस्रोतिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + स्रोतस् + इक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः स्रोतांसि यस्याः/यत्र)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अविमुक्ता: Avimuktā (a sacred place)
• अविमुक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; स्थान/तीर्थ-नाम

• इति: thus/so called
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• पुण्यदा: bestowing merit
• पुण्यदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्यद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यं ददाति इति)

• मत्स्योदरी: Matsyodarī (name of a place/stream)
• मत्स्योदरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य + उदर + ई (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मत्स्यस्य उदरम् इव/मत्स्य-उदर-सम्बन्धिनी)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• ॐकारे: in/at Oṃkāra (place)
• ॐकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ॐकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• पुण्यदा: bestowing merit
• पुण्यदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्यद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यं ददाति)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: for/indeed)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara, narrating/receiving tirtha-mahatmya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta
• Omkara (Omkareshvara)

FAQs

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

It teaches that a single sacred tirtha can be known by multiple traditional names, and that remembering/approaching it through these recognized designations is itself merit-giving (puṇyadā), especially in renowned kṣetras like Avimukta and Oṃkāra.

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

By emphasizing holy names and holy places connected with divine presence (Avimukta, Oṃkāra), it supports bhakti through nāma-smaraṇa and tīrtha-yātrā—devotional remembrance, pilgrimage, and reverent approach as continual sources of spiritual uplift.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects Nirukta/etymological tradition and Purāṇic anukrama-style naming: preserving authoritative place-names (saṃjñā) used in ritual contexts such as tīrtha-snān, saṅkalpa, and pilgrimage recitations.