Shloka 4

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

आद्यं हि वैष्णवं स्थानं पुराणाः संप्रचक्षते । नावैष्णवे स्थले मुक्तिः सर्वस्य तु कदाचन ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

ādyaṃ hi vaiṣṇavaṃ sthānaṃ purāṇāḥ saṃpracakṣate | nāvaiṣṇave sthale muktiḥ sarvasya tu kadācana || 4 ||

Translation

诚然，诸《往世书》宣说：毗湿奴信众（Vaiṣṇava）的圣地最为第一。在非毗湿奴圣地之处，任何人于任何时刻都绝无解脱可得。

Word by Word

• आद्यम्: first; foremost
• आद्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘स्थानम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-अर्थे

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थानम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• स्थानम्: place; abode
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पुराणाः: the Purāṇas
• पुराणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• संप्रचक्षते: declare; proclaim
• संप्रचक्षते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अवैष्णवे: in a non-Vaiṣṇava (place)
• अवैष्णवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘स्थले’ इति विशेषणम्

• स्थले: in a place
• स्थले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सर्वस्य: for/of everyone
• सर्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तु: but; however
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपात (contrastive particle)

• कदाचन: ever; at any time
• कदाचन: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga context; dialogue framework with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It elevates Vaiṣṇava kṣetras (Viṣṇu-centered sacred places) as the highest spiritual environments, asserting that such sanctified settings uniquely support the aim of mokṣa.

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

By prioritizing “Vaiṣṇava” places, the verse implies that devotion to Viṣṇu—expressed through darśana, nāma-saṅkīrtana, pūjā, and pilgrimage—creates the most conducive conditions for liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-oriented sacred geography—choosing Viṣṇu-centered tīrthas for pilgrimage and worship.