Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

जन्ममृत्युभयं जित्वा स याति परमां गतिम् । निःश्रेयसगतिं पुण्यां तथा योगगतिं लभेत् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

janmamṛtyubhayaṃ jitvā sa yāti paramāṃ gatim | niḥśreyasagatiṃ puṇyāṃ tathā yogagatiṃ labhet || 42 ||

Translation

ครั้นชนะความหวาดกลัวต่อการเกิดและการตายแล้ว ผู้นั้นย่อมถึงคติอันสูงสุด ได้บรรลุหนทางอันเป็นมงคลแห่งนิḥศฺเรยส และได้คติแห่งโยคะด้วยเช่นกัน।

Word by Word

• जन्ममृत्युभयम्: the fear of birth and death
• जन्ममृत्युभयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘जन्म च मृत्यु च (तयोः) भयम्’ (fear consisting in birth and death)

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अन्वादेश (he)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गतिम्’ विशेषण

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निःश्रेयसगतिम्: the path of highest good (final beatitude)
• निःश्रेयसगतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःश्रेयस (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘निःश्रेयसस्य गतिः’ (the path/state of highest good)

• पुण्याम्: holy, meritorious
• पुण्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गतिम्’ विशेषण

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (also/likewise)

• योगगतिम्: the yogic attainment
• योगगतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘योगस्य गतिः’ (attainment through yoga)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a tirtha-mahatmya style instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It states that transcending the existential fear tied to saṃsāra (birth and death) leads to the supreme goal—an auspicious liberation-oriented state (niḥśreyasa) and the fruition of yogic attainment.

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

While Bhakti is not named explicitly here, the verse aligns with the Purāṇic teaching that steady God-centered practice dissolves fear and culminates in the highest gati; devotion commonly functions as the accessible means that matures into niḥśreyasa and yogic steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhanā-oriented—cultivating yogic discipline and liberation-focused conduct to overcome janma-mṛtyu-bhaya.