Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

न सा गतिः कुरुक्षेत्रे गंगाद्वारे न पुष्करे । या गतिर्विहिता पुंसामविमुक्तनिवासिनाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

na sā gatiḥ kurukṣetre gaṃgādvāre na puṣkare | yā gatirvihitā puṃsāmavimuktanivāsinām || 36 ||

Translation

ความบรรลุอันสูงสุดที่กำหนดไว้สำหรับผู้พำนักในอวิมุกตะนั้น มิได้พบแม้ที่กุรุเกษตร มิใช่ที่คงคาทวาร และมิใช่ที่ปุษกร

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• गतिः: attainment/destination
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुरुक्षेत्रे: in Kurukshetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter; place-name), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुरूणां क्षेत्रम्)

• गङ्गाद्वारे: at Gangadvara (Haridwar)
• गङ्गाद्वारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter; place-name), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गङ्गायाः द्वारम्)

• न: nor/not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• पुष्करे: in Pushkara
• पुष्करे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter; place-name), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• गतिः: attainment
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विहिता: ordained/prescribed
• विहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुंसाम्: of men/people
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (plural)

• अविमुक्तनिवासिनाम्: of the residents of Avimukta
• अविमुक्तनिवासिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्त + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (अविमुक्ते निवासिनः)

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana’s Uttara-Bhaga dialogue; teaching attributed to Narada’s tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Builds wonder by negating even famed tīrthas, then resolves into serene certainty about Avimukta’s uniquely ordained highest gati."}

Characters & Entities

• Kurukshetra
• Ganga
• Gangadvara
• Pushkara
• Avimukta (Kashi)

FAQs

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

It elevates Avimukta (Kāśī) as uniquely potent for liberation, declaring that the destiny granted to its residents surpasses even famed tīrthas like Kurukṣetra, Gaṅgādvāra, and Puṣkara.

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

By stressing residence in Avimukta as a divinely “ordained” means to the highest gati, it supports the Purāṇic bhakti framework where sacred geography and continual remembrance/worship in a holy kṣetra intensify devotion and its fruits.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects tīrtha-dharma (ritual geography): knowing which kṣetras are prescribed for specific spiritual aims, guiding pilgrimage planning, vows, and rites connected to holy places rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.