Shloka 40
Kāśī-māhātmya: Avimukta Gaṅgā and the Pañcanada Tīrtha
कोऽपि वर्णयितुं शक्तश्चतुर्वर्गशुभौकसः । इति ते कथितं भद्रे काशीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ ४० ॥
ko'pi varṇayituṃ śaktaścaturvargaśubhaukasaḥ | iti te kathitaṃ bhadre kāśīmāhātmyamuttamam || 40 ||
Hầu như chẳng ai đủ sức mô tả trọn vẹn Kāśī—nơi cư ngụ cát tường ban cho bốn mục tiêu của đời người. Vì vậy, hỡi hiền nữ, ta đã thuật cho nàng nghe Kāśī-māhātmya tối thượng này.
A narrator-sage (within the Kashi Mahatmya dialogue), addressing a female listener (bhadre)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames Kāśī as a uniquely potent tīrtha—an auspicious abode capable of granting all four puruṣārthas—and marks the formal conclusion of the Kāśī-māhātmya narration.
By praising Kāśī as “supreme” and “auspicious,” the verse encourages faith-filled listening (śravaṇa) and reverent remembrance of the tīrtha’s glory—common bhakti modes through which merit and spiritual uplift are gained.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught; the practical takeaway is tīrtha-māhātmya praxis—hearing and transmitting the greatness of sacred places as a dharma-supporting discipline.