Shloka 144

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

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् रुद्रः सर्वलोकमहेश्वरः सुदृष्टं कुरु देवेशि अविमुक्तं गृहं मम

Transliteration

ityuktvā bhagavān rudraḥ sarvalokamaheśvaraḥ sudṛṣṭaṃ kuru deveśi avimuktaṃ gṛhaṃ mama

Translation

Nachdem Bhagavān Rudra—der Große Herr aller Welten—so gesprochen hatte, sagte er: «O Göttin, Herrin der Devas, richte deinen glückverheißenden Blick darauf und mache meine Wohnstatt Avimukta wohlbehütet und gesegnet».

Word by Word

• इति-उक्त्वा (ity-uktvā): having said thus

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord

• रुद्रः (rudraḥ): Rudra (Śiva)

• सर्वलोकमहेश्वरः (sarva-loka-maheśvaraḥ): the Great Lord of all worlds

• सुदृष्टम् (su-dṛṣṭam): auspiciously seen, blessed by a favorable glance

• कुरु (kuru): make, do

• देवेशि (deveśi): O Goddess, Mistress of the devas

• अविमुक्तम् (avimuktam): Avimukta (the never-abandoned sacred kṣetra, Kāśī)

• गृहम् (gṛham): abode, dwelling

• मम (mama): my

Speaker

Shiva (Rudra)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)
• Devi (Shakti/Parvati)
• Avimukta (Kashi)

FAQs

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

It frames Avimukta (Kāśī) as Śiva’s own abode, safeguarded by Śakti’s auspicious glance—implying that Linga-pūjā performed there is supported by the Pati (Śiva) and sanctified by Shakti, accelerating purification of pāśa (bondage).

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

Śiva is presented as Sarvalokamaheśvara (Lord of all realms) yet intimately rooted in a kṣetra as “my abode,” showing Shiva-tattva as both transcendent Pati and immanent sanctifier who establishes spaces where the paśu can approach liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights kṣetra-sevā and śakti-kṛpā (grace through the Goddess’s auspicious sight) as supports for sādhana—especially Linga-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented discipline undertaken in Avimukta for loosening pāśa and realizing Pati.