Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita — Chapter 23
SiP 4 23.1
ऋषय ऊचुः ।। एवं वाराणसी पुण्या यदि सूत महापुरी ।। तत्प्रभावं वदास्माकमविमुक्तस्य च प्रभो
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || evaṃ vārāṇasī puṇyā yadi sūta mahāpurī || tatprabhāvaṃ vadāsmākamavimuktasya ca prabho
The seers said: If Vārāṇasī, the great city, is holy in this way, O Sūta, then tell us its power, and that of Avimukta, O lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.2
सूत उवाच।। वक्ष्ये संक्षेपतस्सम्यग्वाराणस्यास्सुशोभनम् ।। विश्वेश्वरस्य माहात्म्यं श्रूयतां च मुनीश्वराः
sūta uvāca|| vakṣye saṃkṣepatassamyagvārāṇasyāssuśobhanam || viśveśvarasya māhātmyaṃ śrūyatāṃ ca munīśvarāḥ
Sūta said: I shall tell (it) rightly, in brief — the fair splendour of Vārāṇasī and the greatness of Viśveśvara; hear it, O best of sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.3
कदाचित्पार्वती देवी शङ्करं परया मुदा ।। लोककामनयापृच्छन्माहात्म्यमविमुक्तयोः
kadācitpārvatī devī śaṅkaraṃ parayā mudā || lokakāmanayāpṛcchanmāhātmyamavimuktayoḥ
Once the goddess Pārvatī, with the greatest delight, asked Śaṅkara, out of desire (for the good) of the worlds, about the greatness of the two Avimuktas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.4
पार्वत्युवाच ।। अस्य क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हस्य शेषतः ।। ममोपरि कृपां कृत्वा लोकानां हितकाम्यया रोचते मे सदा वासो वाराणस्यां महेश्वरि।। हेतुना येन सर्वाणि विहाय शृणु तद्ध्रुवम् मम क्षेत्रे मोक्षदे हि यो वा वसति मानवः ।। यथा तथा मृतः स्याच्चेन्मोक्षमाप्नोति निश्चितम् विषयासक्तचित्तोऽपि त्यक्त धर्मरुचिर्नरः ।। इह क्षेत्रे मृतो यो वै संसारं न पुनर्विशेत् केवलं चाशुभं कर्म नरकाय भवेदिह ।। शुभं स्वर्गाय जायेत द्वाभ्यां मानुष्यमीरितम् पूर्वं चैव कृता काशी पश्चात्पापं समाचरेत् ।। तद्बीजेन बलवता नीयते काशिका पुनः
pārvatyuvāca || asya kṣetrasya māhātmyaṃ vaktumarhasya śeṣataḥ || mamopari kṛpāṃ kṛtvā lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā rocate me sadā vāso vārāṇasyāṃ maheśvari|| hetunā yena sarvāṇi vihāya śṛṇu taddhruvam mama kṣetre mokṣade hi yo vā vasati mānavaḥ || yathā tathā mṛtaḥ syāccenmokṣamāpnoti niścitam viṣayāsaktacitto'pi tyakta dharmarucirnaraḥ || iha kṣetre mṛto yo vai saṃsāraṃ na punarviśet kevalaṃ cāśubhaṃ karma narakāya bhavediha || śubhaṃ svargāya jāyeta dvābhyāṃ mānuṣyamīritam pūrvaṃ caiva kṛtā kāśī paścātpāpaṃ samācaret || tadbījena balavatā nīyate kāśikā punaḥ
Pārvatī said: You should tell the greatness of this sacred field completely, showing favour toward me, out of desire for the welfare of the worlds. — (Śiva:) Dwelling in Vārāṇasī pleases me always, O Maheśvarī; hear firmly the reason for which (I dwell there), abandoning all (else). Indeed, whatever man dwells in my liberation-giving field, if he dies in any manner whatever, he certainly attains release. Even a man whose mind is attached to sense-objects, who has abandoned all taste for dharma — whoever dies here in this field shall not enter the round of rebirth again. Elsewhere, evil action alone leads to hell and good (action) to heaven, while from the two together human birth is declared. But if Kāśī has first been visited and afterwards one commits sin, by that powerful seed (of merit) one is led back to Kāśī again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SiP 4 23.5
सूत उवाच ।। देव्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवदेवो जगत्प्रभुः।। प्रत्युवाच भवानीं तां जीवानां प्रियहेतवे
sūta uvāca || devyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā devadevo jagatprabhuḥ|| pratyuvāca bhavānīṃ tāṃ jīvānāṃ priyahetave
Sūta said: Having heard that speech of the Goddess, the God of gods, lord of the world, replied to Bhavānī, for the sake of what is dear to living beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.6
परमेश्वर उवाच।। साधु पृष्टं त्वया भद्रे लोकानां सुखदं शुभम् ।। कथयामि यथार्थं वै महा त्म्यमविमुक्तयोः
parameśvara uvāca|| sādhu pṛṣṭaṃ tvayā bhadre lokānāṃ sukhadaṃ śubham || kathayāmi yathārthaṃ vai mahā tmyamavimuktayoḥ
Parameśvara said: Well have you asked, O gracious one — (a question) auspicious and joy-giving to the worlds. I shall relate truly the greatness of the two Avimuktas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.7
इदं गुह्यतमं क्षेत्रं सदा वाराणसी मम।। सर्वेषामेव जंतूनां हेतुर्मोक्षस्य सर्वथा
idaṃ guhyatamaṃ kṣetraṃ sadā vārāṇasī mama|| sarveṣāmeva jaṃtūnāṃ heturmokṣasya sarvathā
This field, Vārāṇasī, is always my most secret (place); it is in every way the cause of release for all creatures whatsoever.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.8
अस्मिन्सिद्धास्सदा क्षेत्रे मदीयं व्रतमाश्रिताः ।। नानालिंगधरा नित्यं मम लोकाभिकांक्षिणः
asminsiddhāssadā kṣetre madīyaṃ vratamāśritāḥ || nānāliṃgadharā nityaṃ mama lokābhikāṃkṣiṇaḥ
In this field the perfected ones dwell always, having taken up my observance, bearing various marks (of ascetic orders) constantly, longing for my world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.9
अभ्यस्यंति महायोगं जितात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः ।। परं पाशुपतं श्रौतं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्
abhyasyaṃti mahāyogaṃ jitātmāno jitendriyāḥ || paraṃ pāśupataṃ śrautaṃ bhuktimuktiphalapradam
Self-conquered and sense-conquered, they practise the great yoga, the supreme Pāśupata (yoga) taught in scripture, which bestows the fruits of enjoyment and release.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.11
यो मे भक्तश्च विज्ञानी तावुभौ मुक्तिभागिनौ ।। तीर्थापेक्षा च न तयोर्विहिता विहिते समौ
yo me bhaktaśca vijñānī tāvubhau muktibhāginau || tīrthāpekṣā ca na tayorvihitā vihite samau
He who is my devotee and he who possesses knowledge — both of these have a share in release; and for those two no reliance on a sacred place is prescribed: in what is prescribed they are equal.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.12
जीवन्मुक्तौ तु तौ ज्ञेयौ यत्रकुत्रापि वै मृतौ ।। प्राप्नुतो मोक्षमाश्वेव मयोक्तं निश्चितं वचः
jīvanmuktau tu tau jñeyau yatrakutrāpi vai mṛtau || prāpnuto mokṣamāśveva mayoktaṃ niścitaṃ vacaḥ
Those two are to be known as liberated while living; dead in whatever place, they attain release at once — this word spoken by me is certain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.13
अत्र तीर्थे विशेषोस्त्यविमुक्ताख्ये परोत्तमे ।। श्रूयतां तत्त्वया देवि परशक्ते सुचित्तया
atra tīrthe viśeṣostyavimuktākhye parottame || śrūyatāṃ tattvayā devi paraśakte sucittayā
Here in this sacred place, the supremely excellent one named Avimukta, there is a special (feature); hear that with attentive mind, O Goddess, O supreme Power.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.14
सर्वे वर्णा आश्रमाश्च बालयौवनवार्द्धकाः ।। अस्यां पुर्यां मृताश्चेत्त्स्युर्मुक्ता एव न संशयः
sarve varṇā āśramāśca bālayauvanavārddhakāḥ || asyāṃ puryāṃ mṛtāścettsyurmuktā eva na saṃśayaḥ
All classes and all stages of life, children, youths and the aged — if they die in this city they are simply liberated, there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.15
अशुचिश्च शुचिर्वापि कन्या परिणता तथा ।। विधवा वाथ वा वंध्या रजोदोषयुतापि वा
aśuciśca śucirvāpi kanyā pariṇatā tathā || vidhavā vātha vā vaṃdhyā rajodoṣayutāpi vā
Impure or pure, a maiden or a married woman, or a widow, or barren, or afflicted with the impurity of menstruation,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.16
प्रसूता संस्कृता कापि यादृशी तादृशी द्विजाः ।। अत्र क्षेत्रे मृता चेत्स्यान्मोक्षभाङ् नात्र संशयः
prasūtā saṃskṛtā kāpi yādṛśī tādṛśī dvijāḥ || atra kṣetre mṛtā cetsyānmokṣabhāṅ nātra saṃśayaḥ
one who has given birth, one consecrated (by rites), any woman whatever she may be, O twice-born ones — if she dies in this field she has a share in release; there is no doubt here.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.17
स्वेदजश्चांडजो वापि द्युद्भिज्जोऽथ जरायुजः । मृतो मोक्षमवाप्नोति यथात्र न तथा क्वचित्
svedajaścāṃḍajo vāpi dyudbhijjo'tha jarāyujaḥ | mṛto mokṣamavāpnoti yathātra na tathā kvacit
Born of sweat, or born of an egg, or sprung from a sprout, or born of a womb — (whatever) dies (here) attains release; as here, so nowhere else.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.18
ज्ञानापेक्षा न चात्रैव भत्तयपेक्षा न वै पुनः ।। कर्मापेक्षा न देव्यत्र दानापेक्षा न चैव हि
jñānāpekṣā na cātraiva bhattayapekṣā na vai punaḥ || karmāpekṣā na devyatra dānāpekṣā na caiva hi
And here there is no requirement of knowledge, nor again any requirement of devotion; here, O Goddess, there is no requirement of ritual action, nor indeed of giving.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.19
संस्कृत्यपेक्षा नैवात्र ध्यानापेक्षा न कर्हिचित् ।। नामापेक्षार्चनापेक्षा सुजातीनां तथात्र न
saṃskṛtyapekṣā naivātra dhyānāpekṣā na karhicit || nāmāpekṣārcanāpekṣā sujātīnāṃ tathātra na
Here there is no requirement of consecratory rites, nor ever any requirement of meditation; nor is there here any requirement of (uttering) the name, or of worship, or of good birth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.21
एतन्मम पुरं दिव्यं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं प्रिये ।। ब्रह्मादयोऽपि जानंति माहात्म्यं नास्य पार्वति
etanmama puraṃ divyaṃ guhyādguhyataraṃ priye || brahmādayo'pi jānaṃti māhātmyaṃ nāsya pārvati
This divine city of mine is more secret than the secret, O beloved; even Brahmā and the rest do not know its greatness, O Pārvatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.22
महत्क्षेत्रमिदं तस्मादविमुक्तमिति स्मृतम् ।। सर्वेभ्यो नैमिषादिभ्यः परं मोक्षप्रदं मृते
mahatkṣetramidaṃ tasmādavimuktamiti smṛtam || sarvebhyo naimiṣādibhyaḥ paraṃ mokṣapradaṃ mṛte
Therefore this great field is remembered as 'Avimukta' (the never-forsaken); higher than all (the others), Naimiṣa and the rest, it bestows release upon one who has died (there).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.23
धर्मस्योपनिषत्सत्यं मोक्षस्योपनिषत्समम् ।। क्षेत्रतीर्थोपनिषदमविमुक्तं विदुर्बुधाः
dharmasyopaniṣatsatyaṃ mokṣasyopaniṣatsamam || kṣetratīrthopaniṣadamavimuktaṃ vidurbudhāḥ
Truth is the secret essence (upaniṣad) of dharma; equanimity is the secret essence of liberation; and the wise know Avimukta to be the secret essence of holy fields and fords.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.24
कामं भुंजन्स्वपन्क्रीडन्कुर्वन्हि विविधाः क्रियाः ।। अविमुक्ते त्यजन्प्राणाञ्जंतुर्मोक्षाय कल्पते
kāmaṃ bhuṃjansvapankrīḍankurvanhi vividhāḥ kriyāḥ || avimukte tyajanprāṇāñjaṃturmokṣāya kalpate
Indeed, whether enjoying pleasure at will, sleeping, playing, or performing various activities, a creature who gives up his life-breaths in Avimukta becomes fit for liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.25
कृत्वा पापसहस्राणि पिशाचत्वं वरं नृणाम् ।। न च क्रतुसहस्रत्वं स्वर्गे काशीं पुरीं विना
kṛtvā pāpasahasrāṇi piśācatvaṃ varaṃ nṛṇām || na ca kratusahasratvaṃ svarge kāśīṃ purīṃ vinā
Having committed thousands of sins, becoming a piśāca (in Kāśī) is better for men than the state of (having performed) a thousand sacrifices in heaven, apart from the city of Kāśī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SiP 4 23.26
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेव्यते काशिका पुरी ।। अव्यक्तलिंगं मुनिभिर्ध्यायते च सदाशिवः
tasmātsarvaprayatnena sevyate kāśikā purī || avyaktaliṃgaṃ munibhirdhyāyate ca sadāśivaḥ
Therefore, with every effort, the city of Kāśī is to be served; and there Sadāśiva, whose liṅga is unmanifest, is meditated upon by the sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.27
यद्यत्फलं समुद्दिश्य तपन्त्यत्र नरः प्रिये ।। तेभ्यश्चाहं प्रय च्छामि सम्यक्तत्तत्फलं धुवम्
yadyatphalaṃ samuddiśya tapantyatra naraḥ priye || tebhyaścāhaṃ praya cchāmi samyaktattatphalaṃ dhuvam
Whatever fruit men aim at when they practise austerity here, beloved, to them I certainly grant that very fruit in full.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.28
सायुज्यमात्मनः पश्चादीप्सितं स्थानमेव च।। न कुतश्चित्कर्मबंधस्त्यजतामत्र वै तनुम्
sāyujyamātmanaḥ paścādīpsitaṃ sthānameva ca|| na kutaścitkarmabaṃdhastyajatāmatra vai tanum
And afterwards union with my own self, and the very abode they desire; there is no bondage of karma from any source for those who lay down the body here.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.29
ब्रह्मा देवर्षिभिस्सार्द्धं विष्णुर्वापि दिवाकरः ।। उपासते महात्मानस्सर्वे मामिह चापरे
brahmā devarṣibhissārddhaṃ viṣṇurvāpi divākaraḥ || upāsate mahātmānassarve māmiha cāpare
Brahmā together with the divine seers, and Viṣṇu too, and the Sun—all these great ones, and others besides, worship me here.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.31
किं पुनर्निर्ममा धीरासत्त्वस्था दंभवर्जिताः ।। कृतिनश्च निरारंभास्सर्वे ते मयि भाविताः
kiṃ punarnirmamā dhīrāsattvasthā daṃbhavarjitāḥ || kṛtinaśca nirāraṃbhāssarve te mayi bhāvitāḥ
How much more, then, those who are free of the sense of 'mine', steadfast, established in sattva, devoid of hypocrisy, accomplished and free of (self-willed) undertakings—all of them are absorbed in me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.32
जन्मांतरसहस्रेषु जन्म योगी समाप्नुयात् ।। तदिहैव परं मोक्षं मरणादधिगच्छति
janmāṃtarasahasreṣu janma yogī samāpnuyāt || tadihaiva paraṃ mokṣaṃ maraṇādadhigacchati
The birth that a yogin would attain (only) after thousands of other births—that supreme liberation he here reaches through death (in this place).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SiP 4 23.33
अत्र लिंगान्यनेकानि भक्तैस्संस्थापितानि हि ।। सर्वकामप्रदानीह मोक्षदानि च पार्वति
atra liṃgānyanekāni bhaktaissaṃsthāpitāni hi || sarvakāmapradānīha mokṣadāni ca pārvati
Here many liṅgas have been installed by devotees; here they grant all desires and also give liberation, Pārvatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.34
पंचक्रोशं चतुर्दिक्षु क्षेत्रमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम् ।। समंताच्च तथा जंतोर्मृतिकालेऽमृतप्रदम्
paṃcakrośaṃ caturdikṣu kṣetrametatprakīrtitam || samaṃtācca tathā jaṃtormṛtikāle'mṛtapradam
This field is proclaimed to extend five krośas in the four directions, and all around likewise it grants immortality to a creature at the time of death.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.35
अपापश्च मृतो यो वै सद्यो मोक्षं समश्नुते ।। सपापश्च मृतौ यस्स्यात्कायव्यूहान्समश्नुते
apāpaśca mṛto yo vai sadyo mokṣaṃ samaśnute || sapāpaśca mṛtau yassyātkāyavyūhānsamaśnute
And he who dies free of sin at once attains liberation; but he who dies with sin attains a series of (successive) bodies.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.36
यातनां सोनुभूयैव पश्चान्मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् ।। पातकं योऽविमुक्ताख्ये क्षेत्रेऽस्मिन्कुरुते ध्रुवम्
yātanāṃ sonubhūyaiva paścānmokṣamavāpnuyāt || pātakaṃ yo'vimuktākhye kṣetre'sminkurute dhruvam
Having undergone the torment, he afterwards would attain liberation. He who commits a grave sin in this field named Avimukta, assuredly—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.37
भैरवीं यातनां प्राप्य वर्षाणामयुते पुनः ।। ततो मोक्षमवाप्नोति भुक्त्वा पापं च सुन्दरि ।।
bhairavīṃ yātanāṃ prāpya varṣāṇāmayute punaḥ || tato mokṣamavāpnoti bhuktvā pāpaṃ ca sundari ||
—having undergone the terrible (Bhairava) torment for ten thousand years, then, having consumed his sin, he attains liberation, O lovely one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.38
इति ते च समाख्याता पापाचारे च या गतिः ।। एवं ज्ञात्वा नरस्सम्यक्सेवयेदविमुक्तकम्
iti te ca samākhyātā pāpācāre ca yā gatiḥ || evaṃ jñātvā narassamyaksevayedavimuktakam
Thus have those (matters) been declared to you, and what the destiny is in the case of sinful conduct. Knowing this, a man should properly serve Avimuktaka.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.39
कृतकर्मक्षयो नास्ति कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ।। अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम्
kṛtakarmakṣayo nāsti kalpakoṭiśatairapi || avaśyameva bhoktavyaṃ kṛtaṃ karma śubhāśubham
There is no destruction of karma once done, even by hundreds of millions of kalpas; karma once done, good or bad, must inevitably be experienced.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.41
जन्म सम्यगसम्यक् च न्यूनाधिक्ये भवेदिह ।। उभयोश्च क्षयो मुक्तिर्भवेत्सत्यं हि पार्वति
janma samyagasamyak ca nyūnādhikye bhavediha || ubhayośca kṣayo muktirbhavetsatyaṃ hi pārvati
Birth here comes about, good or bad, according to the deficiency or excess (of the two kinds of karma); and when both are exhausted there is release—this is the truth, Pārvatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SiP 4 23.42
कर्म च त्रिविधं प्रोक्तं कर्मकाण्डे महेश्वरि ।। संचितं क्रियमाणं च प्रारब्धं चेति बंधकृत्
karma ca trividhaṃ proktaṃ karmakāṇḍe maheśvari || saṃcitaṃ kriyamāṇaṃ ca prārabdhaṃ ceti baṃdhakṛt
And karma is declared to be of three kinds in the Karmakāṇḍa, O Maheśvarī: the accumulated, the being-done, and the begun—and it causes bondage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.43
पूर्वजन्मसमुद्भूतं संचितं समुदाहृतम् ।। भुज्यते च शरीरेण प्रारब्धं परिकीर्तितम्
pūrvajanmasamudbhūtaṃ saṃcitaṃ samudāhṛtam || bhujyate ca śarīreṇa prārabdhaṃ parikīrtitam
That which arose in a former birth is called 'accumulated'; and that which is being experienced through the body is termed 'begun' (prārabdha).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.44
जन्मना यच्च क्रियते कर्म सांप्रतम् ।। शुभाशुभं च देवेशि क्रियमाणं विदुर्बुधाः
janmanā yacca kriyate karma sāṃpratam || śubhāśubhaṃ ca deveśi kriyamāṇaṃ vidurbudhāḥ
And the karma, good or bad, that is being done at present in (this) birth—that, O Queen of the gods, the wise know as the 'being-done'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.45
प्रारब्धकर्मणो भोगात्क्षयश्चैव चान्यथा ।। उपायेन द्वयोर्नाशः कर्मणोः पूजनादिना
prārabdhakarmaṇo bhogātkṣayaścaiva cānyathā || upāyena dvayornāśaḥ karmaṇoḥ pūjanādinā
Prārabdha karma perishes only through experiencing (it), and not otherwise; but the destruction of the two (other) karmas comes about by such means as worship.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.46
सर्वेषां कर्मणां नाशो नास्ति काशीं पुरीं विना ।। सर्वं च सुलभं तीर्थं दुर्ल्लभा काशिका पुरी
sarveṣāṃ karmaṇāṃ nāśo nāsti kāśīṃ purīṃ vinā || sarvaṃ ca sulabhaṃ tīrthaṃ durllabhā kāśikā purī
There is no destruction of all karmas apart from the city of Kāśī; every (other) sacred ford is easy to obtain, but the city of Kāśī is hard to obtain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.47
पूर्वजन्मकृतं चेद्वै काशीदर्शनमादरात् ।। तदा काशीं च संप्राप्य लभेन्मृत्युं न चान्यथा
pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ cedvai kāśīdarśanamādarāt || tadā kāśīṃ ca saṃprāpya labhenmṛtyuṃ na cānyathā
If in a former birth the seeing of Kāśī was done with reverence, then, having reached Kāśī, one obtains death (there), and not otherwise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.48
काशीं प्राप्य नरो यस्तु गंगायां स्नानमाचरेत् ।। तदा च क्रियमाणस्य संचितस्यापि संक्षयः
kāśīṃ prāpya naro yastu gaṃgāyāṃ snānamācaret || tadā ca kriyamāṇasya saṃcitasyāpi saṃkṣayaḥ
When a man, having reached Kāśī, performs his bath in the Gaṅgā, then there is complete destruction of the karma now being done and of the accumulated karma too.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.49
प्रारब्धं न विना भोगो नश्य तीति सुनिश्चितम् ।। मृतिश्च तस्य संजाता तदा तस्य क्षयो भवेत्
prārabdhaṃ na vinā bhogo naśya tīti suniścitam || mṛtiśca tasya saṃjātā tadā tasya kṣayo bhavet
It is well settled that the prārabdha (karma) does not perish without experience; and when his death has occurred, then its destruction takes place.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.51
तदा सर्वाणि पापानि भस्मसाच्च भवंति हि ।। तस्मात्काशीं नरस्सेवेत्कर्मनिर्मूलनीं ध्रुवम् ।।
tadā sarvāṇi pāpāni bhasmasācca bhavaṃti hi || tasmātkāśīṃ narassevetkarmanirmūlanīṃ dhruvam ||
Then indeed all his sins are reduced to ashes; therefore let a man resort to Kāśī, which surely uproots karma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.52
एकोऽपि ब्राह्मणो येन काश्यां संवासितः प्रिये ।। काशीवासमवाप्यैव ततो मुक्तिं स विंदति
eko'pi brāhmaṇo yena kāśyāṃ saṃvāsitaḥ priye || kāśīvāsamavāpyaiva tato muktiṃ sa viṃdati
Even (if) a single brahmin is made to dwell in Kāśī by someone, dear one, that (person), having obtained residence in Kāśī, thereby finds liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.53
काश्यां यो वै मृतश्चैव तस्य जन्म पुनर्नहि ।। समुद्दिश्य प्रयागे च मृतस्य कामनाफले
kāśyāṃ yo vai mṛtaścaiva tasya janma punarnahi || samuddiśya prayāge ca mṛtasya kāmanāphale
He who has died in Kāśī — for him there is no rebirth; whereas for one who dies at Prayāga after having formed a resolve, the fruit is according to his desire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SiP 4 23.54
संयोगश्च तयोश्चेत्स्यात्काशीजन्यफलं वृथा ।। यदि न स्यात्तयोर्योगस्तीर्थराजफलं वृथा
saṃyogaśca tayoścetsyātkāśījanyaphalaṃ vṛthā || yadi na syāttayoryogastīrtharājaphalaṃ vṛthā
If there should be a conjunction of the two, the fruit arising from Kāśī is in vain; if there is no conjunction of the two, the fruit of the king of tīrthas is in vain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.55
तस्मान्मच्छासनाद्विष्णुस्सृष्टिं साक्षाद्धि नूतनाम् ।। विधाय मनसोद्दिष्टां तत्सिद्धिं यच्छति ध्रुवम्
tasmānmacchāsanādviṣṇussṛṣṭiṃ sākṣāddhi nūtanām || vidhāya manasoddiṣṭāṃ tatsiddhiṃ yacchati dhruvam
Therefore, by my command, Viṣṇu, having actually made a new creation as indicated by the mind, assuredly grants the fulfilment of that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.56
सूत उवाच ।। इत्यादि बहुमाहात्म्यं काश्यां वै मुनिसत्तमाः ।। तथा विश्वेश्वरस्यापि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं सताम्
sūta uvāca || ityādi bahumāhātmyaṃ kāśyāṃ vai munisattamāḥ || tathā viśveśvarasyāpi bhuktimuktipradaṃ satām
Sūta said: Such and much more is the greatness of Kāśī, O best of sages, and likewise of Viśveśvara, who grants enjoyment and liberation to the good.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SiP 4 23.57
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं त्र्यंबकस्य च ।। यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते मानवः क्षणात्
ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṃ tryaṃbakasya ca || yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate mānavaḥ kṣaṇāt
Hereafter I shall proclaim the greatness of Tryambaka too, hearing which a man is freed from all sins in an instant.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition