Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अधुना वद विप्रेंद्र काशीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । मया पूर्वं श्रुतं ब्रह्मन् किंचित्संध्यावलीमुखात् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

adhunā vada vipreṃdra kāśīmāhātmyamuttamam | mayā pūrvaṃ śrutaṃ brahman kiṃcitsaṃdhyāvalīmukhāt || 8 ||

Translation

如今，哦婆罗门中之最胜（Viprendra），请宣说迦尸（Kāśī）至上的伟大功德。先前，尊贵的婆罗门啊，我仅从三昧耶瓦梨（Saṃdhyāvalī）之口听闻些许。

Word by Word

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वद: tell (speak)
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विप्रेंद्र: O chief of Brahmins
• विप्रेंद्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विप्राणाम् इन्द्रः (chief of Brahmins)

• काशी-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of Kāśī
• काशी-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: काश्याः माहात्म्यम्

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (काशीमाहात्म्यम्)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly, earlier
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• किंचित्: a little, somewhat
• किंचित्: Vishesana (विशेषण/Quantifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (सर्वनाम/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; अल्पपरिमाणवाचक (indefinite/quantifier: ‘a little’)

• संध्यावली-मुखात्: from Sandhyāvalī’s mouth
• संध्यावली-मुखात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्यावली (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: संध्यावल्याः मुखम् (from the mouth of Sandhyāvalī)

Speaker

Narrator/Questioner (disciple-devotee addressing a Brahmin sage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kashi (Varanasi)
• Saṃdhyāvalī

FAQs

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

It frames Kāśī as a supreme tīrtha whose full māhātmya should be heard in detail from an authoritative sage, emphasizing śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a means of gaining merit and right understanding.

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

Bhakti here appears as humble inquiry and attentive hearing—requesting the “uttama” glory of a sacred place from a realized brāhmaṇa, showing that devotion grows through respectful listening to sacred accounts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights śravaṇa and reliable transmission (guru/vakta-pramāṇa) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it implies disciplined learning through correct sources and recitation in traditional narrative settings.