Shloka 4

Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha

Devanagari script

सेवंते सततं गंगां काश्यामुत्तरवाहिनीम् । दशाश्वमेधे यः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा विश्वेश्वरं शिवम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sevaṃte satataṃ gaṃgāṃ kāśyāmuttaravāhinīm | daśāśvamedhe yaḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā viśveśvaraṃ śivam || 4 ||

Translation

جو لوگ کاشی میں شمال کی طرف بہنے والی گنگا کی ہمیشہ سیوا کرتے ہیں—دشاشومیدھ پر اسنان کرکے اور وشویشور شِو کے درشن کرکے—وہ عظیم پُنّیہ کے حق دار ہوتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• सेवन्ते: they serve/worship
• सेवन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): ‘always/continually’

• गङ्गाम्: Ganga
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• काश्याम्: in Kashi
• काश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तर-वाहिनीम्: north-flowing
• उत्तर-वाहिनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: ‘उत्तरं वहति’ (north-flowing)

• दश-अश्वमेधे: at (the place called) Dashashvamedha
• दश-अश्वमेधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: ‘दश अश्वमेधाः’ (the place/area called ‘Ten-Ashvamedhas’)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having bathed’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having seen’

• विश्व-ईश्वरम्: the Lord of the universe (Vishveshvara)
• विश्व-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘विश्वस्य ईश्वरः’

• शिवम्: Shiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘विश्वेश्वरम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य/अप्पोजिशन

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Uttara-Bhāga tīrtha-māhātmya in Purāṇic style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Kashi (Varanasi)
• Dashashvamedha Tirtha
• Shiva
• Vishveshvara

FAQs

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

It elevates Kāśī practice into a complete tīrtha-sādhana: reverence to the uttaravāhinī Gaṅgā, tīrtha-snāna at Daśāśvamedha, and darśana of Viśveśvara Śiva—presented as a highly purifying, merit-conferring act.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through continual sevā (reverent worship) and darśana: steady devotion to Gaṅgā and heartfelt beholding of Viśveśvara at Kāśī, making pilgrimage an act of loving surrender rather than mere travel.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented tīrtha-vidhi) is implied: the sequence of snāna at a designated tīrtha (Daśāśvamedha) followed by temple darśana (Viśveśvara), reflecting orthodox pilgrimage procedure rather than grammar or astrology.