Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

नहि योगगतिर्लभ्या जन्मांतरशतैरपि । प्राप्यते क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यात्प्रभावाच्छंकरस्य च ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

nahi yogagatirlabhyā janmāṃtaraśatairapi | prāpyate kṣetramāhātmyātprabhāvācchaṃkarasya ca || 43 ||

Translation

瑜伽的圆满，纵经百生亦难得；唯因此圣地之伟大功德，并凭借商羯罗（Śaṅkara）充满恩德的威力，方能证得。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)

• योगगतिः: the yogic attainment
• योगगतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘योगस्य गतिः’

• लभ्या: obtainable
• लभ्या: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लभ्य (कृदन्त, √लभ्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त साध्य/योग्यतावाचक कृदन्त (obtainable)

• जन्मान्तरशतैः: by hundreds of other births
• जन्मान्तरशतैः: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘जन्मान्तराणां शतानि’ (hundreds of other births)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = even

• प्राप्यते: is attained
• प्राप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यात्: due to the greatness of the sacred place
• क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यम्’ (the greatness of the sacred place)

• प्रभावात्: due to the power
• प्रभावात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shankara
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that rare spiritual attainment (the fruition of Yoga) can be accelerated by the sanctity of a sacred kṣetra (tīrtha) and by Śaṅkara’s divine influence, emphasizing pilgrimage-mahātmyas as direct aids to liberation.

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

By crediting attainment to the kṣetra’s greatness and Śaṅkara’s power, the verse highlights grace (anugraha) and reverential dependence on the deity—core elements of bhakti expressed through tīrtha-yātrā, worship, and surrender.

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 of tīrtha-sevā—undertaking pilgrimage and kṣetra-worship as a recognized purāṇic discipline for spiritual progress.