Shloka 72

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

अविमुक्ते सुखासीनं प्रणम्य वृषभध्वजम् अपृच्छत्क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं भवानी हर्षितानना

Transliteration

avimukte sukhāsīnaṃ praṇamya vṛṣabhadhvajam apṛcchatkṣetramāhātmyaṃ bhavānī harṣitānanā

Translation

In Avimukta verneigte sich Bhavānī — ihr Antlitz vor Freude strahlend — vor Śiva, dem Herrn mit dem Stierbanner (Vṛṣabhadhvaja), der in heiterer Ruhe saß, und fragte ihn nach der heiligen Größe jenes Kṣetra.

Word by Word

• अविमुक्ते: in Avimukta (Kāśī)

• सुख-आसीनम्: seated comfortably/at ease

• प्रणम्य: having bowed/prostrated

• वृषभ-ध्वजम्: the One whose banner bears the bull (Śiva)

• अपृच्छत्: asked/inquired

• क्षेत्र-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness/glory of the sacred place

• भवानी: Bhavānī (Pārvatī)

• हर्षित-आनना: with a delighted/joyful face

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal dialogue of Parvati and Shiva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It sets the narrative frame for kṣetra-māhātmya: the sanctity of Avimukta is presented as Śiva’s own revelation, making the place itself a support for devotion to Pati (Śiva) and for Linga-centered worship.

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

Śiva appears as the approachable Pati—serene, seated in ease, yet supremely worship-worthy—who grants knowledge when Śakti (Bhavānī) inquires, showing grace (anugraha) through teaching.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds praṇāma (reverential prostration) and śravaṇa/manana through inquiry into kṣetra-māhātmya—foundational acts that support Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner detachment from pāśa (bondage).