Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा गयाया माहात्म्यं पितॄणां गतिदं परम् । भूयः पप्रच्छ किं विप्रं वसुं वेदविदांवरम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

śrutvā gayāyā māhātmyaṃ pitṝṇāṃ gatidaṃ param | bhūyaḥ papraccha kiṃ vipraṃ vasuṃ vedavidāṃvaram || 4 ||

Translation

Nghe xong sự vĩ đại tối thượng của Gayā—nơi ban cho tổ tiên con đường tối cao—ông lại hỏi vị brāhmaṇa Vasu, bậc ưu tú nhất trong những người thông hiểu Veda.

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya; ‘having heard’

• gayāyāḥ: of Gayā
• gayāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Singular; dependent on māhātmyaṃ

• māhātmyam: the glory (māhātmya)
• māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of śrutvā

• pitṝṇām: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• pitṝṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural (बहुवचन); dependent on gatidam

• gatidam: granting deliverance
• gatidam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘giver of gati (deliverance)’ qualifying māhātmyam

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying māhātmyam

• bhūyaḥ: again; further
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (पुनरर्थक)

• papraccha: asked
• papraccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√prach (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्/परोक्षभूत), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म/interrogative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; interrogative pronoun used adverbially ‘what?’

• vipram: the brāhmaṇa; sage
• vipram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object/person asked (accusative with verbs of asking)

• vasum: Vasu
• vasum: Karma (कर्म/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; in apposition to vipram

• veda: Veda
• veda: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, in compound with vid and vara

• vidām: of knowers
• vidām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural; ‘of knowers’ in compound

• varam: best (among)
• varam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; veda-vidāṃ-vara = ‘best among knowers of the Veda’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) qualifying vasum/vipram

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narration describing the inquirer addressing Vasu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gaya
• Pitrs
• Vasu

FAQs

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

It frames Gayā as a supreme tīrtha whose rites are believed to grant the Pitṛs an elevated destiny (gati), and it advances the dialogue by prompting further instruction on what should be done there.

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

Indirectly: it shows reverent hearing (śravaṇa) of a tīrtha’s māhātmya and humble inquiry to a Veda-knower—both supportive attitudes for devotional practice, especially when performing Pitṛ-related rites with faith.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes reliance on a qualified Veda-knower (vedavid-vara) for correct ritual understanding—pointing toward practical application of Kalpa (ritual procedure) and related disciplines for performing Śrāddha/tarpaṇa at a tīrtha.