Shloka 63

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि

Devanagari script

विषयासक्तचित्तो ऽपि त्यक्तधर्मरतिर्नरः इह क्षेत्रे मृतः सो ऽपि संसारे न पुनर्भवेत्

Transliteration

viṣayāsaktacitto 'pi tyaktadharmaratirnaraḥ iha kṣetre mṛtaḥ so 'pi saṃsāre na punarbhavet

Translation

حتى الرجلُ الذي تعلّق قلبُه بموضوعات الحواس، وحتى من ترك لذّةَ الدharma—إن مات في هذا الكشيترا المقدّس، فلا يعود إلى صيرورة الدنيا؛ ولا يُبعث ثانيةً في السمسارا.

Word by Word

• viṣaya: sense-objects

• āsakta: attached

• cittaḥ: mind

• api: even

• tyakta: abandoned

• dharma: righteousness/sacred duty

• ratiḥ: delight/attachment

• naraḥ: man/person

• iha: here

• kṣetre: in the sacred field (tīrtha/kshetra)

• mṛtaḥ: dead/died

• saḥ api: he also/even he

• saṃsāre: in saṃsāra/worldly existence

• na: not

• punaḥ: again

• bhavet: would become/be (be reborn).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the kshetra-mahatmya to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It teaches that Shiva’s kṣetra is a grace-field: even an imperfect devotee (still bound by viṣayas and weakened dharma) attains freedom from rebirth if death occurs there, underscoring the salvific power associated with Shiva’s presence and Linga-centered sacred geography.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva appears as Pati whose anugraha (liberating grace) can cut pasha (bondage) beyond the pashu’s merit; the kṣetra functions as a conduit of Shiva-tattva where liberation is attributed to divine power rather than personal purity alone.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Primarily kṣetra-sevā and tīrtha-vāsa (dwelling/serving in Shiva’s sacred place) as a Shaiva sādhanā; it implies the merit of pilgrimage and Linga-oriented worship that prepares the pashu for Shiva’s anugraha at life’s end.