Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

वृषध्वजं शिवं दृष्ट्वा सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत् । स्वर्लोकतां मृतस्तत्र पूजयित्वा शिवो भवेत् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

vṛṣadhvajaṃ śivaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvayajñaphalaṃ labhet | svarlokatāṃ mṛtastatra pūjayitvā śivo bhavet || 48 ||

Translation

వృషధ్వజుడైన శివుని దర్శించితే సమస్త యజ్ఞఫలం లభిస్తుంది. అక్కడ పూజ చేసి మరణించినవాడు స్వర్గలోకాన్ని పొందుతాడు; శివసమాన స్థితిని కూడా చేరుతాడు.

Word by Word

• वृषध्वजम्: Bull-bannered (Śiva)
• वृषध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष-ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वृषस्य ध्वजः

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to वृषध्वजम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• सर्व-यज्ञ-फलम्: the fruit of all sacrifices
• सर्व-यज्ञ-फलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + यज्ञ + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषां यज्ञानां फलम् (fruit of all sacrifices)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• स्वः-लोक-ताम्: heavenly-world status
• स्वः-लोक-ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वः + लोकता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वर्लोकस्य ता/भावः (state of being in heaven)

• मृतः: having died
• मृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'having died'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund; -यित्वा), पूर्वक्रिया

• शिवः: Śiva (i.e., like Śiva)
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana teaching on Tirtha-Mahatmya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-darśana at a sacred place is itself a complete spiritual act, yielding merit equal to all yajñas, and that worship there sanctifies even one’s death into a heavenly attainment and Śiva-like state.

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

It elevates simple devotional acts—darśana (reverent seeing) and pūjā (worship)—as direct means to great spiritual fruit, emphasizing heartfelt approach to Śiva rather than dependence on complex sacrificial performance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: tīrtha-darśana, proper pūjā, and the doctrine of phala (ritual merit) where a devotional rite can be stated as equivalent to ‘sarva-yajña-phala’ within Purāṇic dharma.