Shloka 17

The Greatness of Avimukta (Kāśī/Vārāṇasī) and the Doctrine of Liberation-in-One-Life

Devanagari script

जन्मांतरसहस्रेषु यत्पापं पूर्वसंचितम् । अविमुक्तं प्रविष्टस्य तत्सर्वं व्रजति क्षयम्

Transliteration

janmāṃtarasahasreṣu yatpāpaṃ pūrvasaṃcitam | avimuktaṃ praviṣṭasya tatsarvaṃ vrajati kṣayam

Translation

వేల జన్మాంతరాలలో పూర్వం సঞ্চితమైన ఏ పాపమైతే ఉందో, అవిముక్తంలో ప్రవేశించినవానికి అది అంతా క్షయమై నశిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• janmāntarasahasreṣu: In thousands of other births
• janmāntarasahasreṣu: Adhikarana (Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janmāntarasahasra (janma + antara + sahasra)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (Saptami), Plural

• yat: Which
• yat: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (Prathama), Singular

• pāpam: Sin
• pāpam: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (Prathama), Singular

• pūrvasañcitam: Accumulated previously
• pūrvasañcitam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrvasañcita (pūrva + sañcita)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (Prathama), Singular

• avimuktam: Avimukta (Holy place)
• avimuktam: Karma (Object of entering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avimukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular (Proper Noun: Kashi)

• praviṣṭasya: Of one who has entered
• praviṣṭasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praviṣṭa (pra + viś + kta)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (Shasthi), Singular

• tat: That
• tat: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (Prathama), Singular

• sarvam: All
• sarvam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (Prathama), Singular

• vrajati: Goes
• vrajati: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• kṣayam: Destruction / End
• kṣayam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (Dvitiya), Singular

Speaker

Not explicitly identifiable from the single-verse excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: yat + pāpam = yatpāpam (Consonant assimilation); tat + sarvam = tatsarvam.

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta

FAQs

What is Avimukta in this verse?

Avimukta is a revered sacred kṣetra, traditionally identified with Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), described as a place that is ‘never abandoned’ and famed for spiritual purification.

Does the verse claim that merely entering Avimukta destroys all past sins?

Yes—the verse states that for one who ‘enters Avimukta,’ sins accumulated over many lifetimes are said to be exhausted (kṣaya), emphasizing the purifying power of the sacred place.

What ethical or spiritual lesson does this verse teach?

It highlights the Purāṇic teaching that sacred geography and sincere approach to holy places can catalyze inner purification, encouraging pilgrimage, repentance, and a turn toward dharma.