Shloka 39

Shivamurti–Pratishtha Phala: Shivalaya-Nirmana, Kshetra-Mahatmya, Tirtha-Snana, and Mandala-Vidhi

Devanagari script

केदारे च महाक्षेत्रे प्रयागे च विशेषतः कुरुक्षेत्रे च यः प्राणान् संत्यजेद्याति निर्वृतिम्

Transliteration

kedāre ca mahākṣetre prayāge ca viśeṣataḥ kurukṣetre ca yaḥ prāṇān saṃtyajedyāti nirvṛtim

Translation

Wer in Kedāra, im großen heiligen Feld (Mahākṣetra), besonders in Prayāga, oder in Kurukṣetra den Lebenshauch hingibt, erlangt nirvṛti — den endgültigen Frieden und die Befreiung — durch die Gnade des Pati (Śiva), der die pāśa-Bande durchtrennt, die den paśu fesseln.

Word by Word

• केदारे (kedāre): at Kedāra

• च (ca): and

• महाक्षेत्रे (mahākṣetre): in the great sacred kṣetra/holy field

• प्रयागे (prayāge): at Prayāga

• च (ca): and

• विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ): especially/with special emphasis

• कुरुक्षेत्रे (kurukṣetre): at Kurukṣetra

• च (ca): and

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• प्राणान् (prāṇān): the life-breaths/vital airs

• संत्यजेत् (saṃtyajet): gives up/relinquishes

• याति (yāti): goes/attains

• निर्वृतिम् (nirvṛtim): peace, quiescence, liberation.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kedara
• Prayaga
• Kurukshetra

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s kṣetras (especially Kedāra and Prayāga) are charged with liṅga-śakti; departing life there is said to grant nirvṛti, meaning the soul (paśu) is freed from bondage (pāśa) through Pati’s grace.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the supreme Lord who bestows śānti and mokṣa; the kṣetra is not merely geography but a field where Shiva-tattva is especially accessible and liberating.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tīrtha-sevā and kṣetra-vāsa (pilgrimage, residence, and dying with remembrance of Śiva) are highlighted as mokṣa-supporting disciplines, aligning with Pāśupata ideals of turning the prāṇas toward the Lord at life’s end.