Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रस्यास्य च माहात्म्यम् अविमुक्तस्य शङ्करः उक्तवान्परमेशानः पार्वत्याः प्रीतये भवः

Transliteration

kṣetrasyāsya ca māhātmyam avimuktasya śaṅkaraḥ uktavānparameśānaḥ pārvatyāḥ prītaye bhavaḥ

Translation

Zur Freude Pārvatīs verkündete Śaṅkara—Bhava, der höchste Parameśāna—die Größe dieses Kṣetra, Avimukta, des heiligen Feldes, das der Herr niemals verlässt; dort gewährt der Pati den gebundenen paśu-Seelen die Befreiung.

Word by Word

• क्षेत्रस्य (kṣetrasya): of the sacred field/place

• अस्य (asya): of this

• च (ca): and

• माहात्म्यम् (māhātmyam): greatness, sacred glory

• अविमुक्तस्य (avimuktasya): of Avimukta (the Never-Abandoned holy place)

• शङ्करः (śaṅkaraḥ): Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• उक्तवान् (uktavān): spoke, declared

• परमेशानः (parameśānaḥ): the Supreme Lord

• पार्वत्याः (pārvatyāḥ): of Pārvatī

• प्रीतये (prītaye): for the pleasure/delight

• भवः (bhavaḥ): Bhava (a name of Śiva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s statement to Parvati within the Avimukta-ksetra context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Shankara
• Parameshana
• Bhava
• Avimukta

FAQs

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

It frames Avimukta as a uniquely Shiva-sustained kṣetra—“never abandoned”—implying that worship (including liṅga-pūjā) performed there is empowered by the Lord’s continual presence and grace.

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

Śiva is presented as Parameśāna (Pati), the sovereign bestower of grace, who reveals sacred truth not from compulsion but from compassionate will—here, to please Śakti (Pārvatī), showing the inseparable Shiva–Shakti dynamic.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights kṣetra-sevā and tīrtha-oriented Śaiva devotion—approaching Avimukta with pūjā, japa, and remembrance of Śiva—supported by the Shaiva Siddhānta idea that liberation comes by Pati’s anugraha (grace) to the bound pashu.