Shloka 103

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

Devanagari script

केदारं मध्यमं क्षेत्रं स्थानं चैव महालयम् मम पुण्यानि भूर्लोके तेभ्यः श्रेष्ठतमं त्विदम्

Transliteration

kedāraṃ madhyamaṃ kṣetraṃ sthānaṃ caiva mahālayam mama puṇyāni bhūrloke tebhyaḥ śreṣṭhatamaṃ tvidam

Translation

Kedāra ist das zentrale kṣetra, und dieser Ort selbst ist Mahālaya. Unter all Meinen heiligen Stätten auf der Erdebene ist dies die vortrefflichste von allen.

Word by Word

• केदारम् (kedāram): Kedāra

• मध्यमम् (madhyamam): central, middle, chief

• क्षेत्रम् (kṣetram): sacred field, pilgrimage-region

• स्थानम् (sthānam): abode, station

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• महालयम् (mahālayam): the Great Abode (of Mahādeva)

• मम (mama): My

• पुण्यानि (puṇyāni): holy places/merit-bestowing sanctuaries

• भूर्लोके (bhūrloke): on the earth-world

• तेभ्यः (tebhyaḥ): among them/than those

• श्रेष्ठतमम् (śreṣṭhatamam): the most excellent

• तु (tu): indeed

• इदम् (idam): this (place)

Speaker

Shiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates Kedāra/Mahālaya as Shiva’s सर्वोत्तम (most excellent) earthly kṣetra, implying heightened फल (spiritual fruit) for Linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata performed there.

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

Shiva speaks as Pati—the sovereign Lord who appoints sacred abodes as channels of grace; the kṣetra becomes a locus where His anugraha (liberating favor) is especially accessible to the paśu (bound soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pilgrimage-based Shaiva sādhanā is implied: residing/visiting the kṣetra, performing Linga-pūjā, and undertaking Pāśupata-oriented discipline (japa, vrata, and inner recollection of Pati) for intensified merit and purification.