Shloka 160

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

Devanagari script

अलंकृतं त्वया ब्रह्मन् पुरस्तान् मुनिभिः सह इत्युक्त्वा तद्गृहे तिष्ठद् अलंगृहमिति स्मृतम्

Transliteration

alaṃkṛtaṃ tvayā brahman purastān munibhiḥ saha ityuktvā tadgṛhe tiṣṭhad alaṃgṛhamiti smṛtam

Translation

An Brahmā gewandt sprachen sie: „O Brahman, dieser Ort wurde einst von dir zusammen mit den Munis geschmückt.“ So gesprochen, verweilten sie in jener Wohnstatt; daher wurde sie als Alaṅgṛha, „die Geschmückte Wohnstätte“, in Erinnerung behalten.

Word by Word

• अलंकृतम्: adorned, beautified

• त्वया: by you

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmā (vocative)

• पुरस्तात्: formerly, earlier

• मुनिभिः: with sages

• सह: together

• इति: thus

• उक्त्वा: having said

• तत्-गृहे: in that house/dwelling

• तिष्ठत्: staying, remaining

• अलं-गृहम्: Alaṅgṛha (the Adorned Abode, proper name)

• इति: thus

• स्मृतम्: remembered, known by tradition

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the tradition; internal speech directed to Brahma is quoted)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It frames sacred space as “consecrated” by prior ritual action of Brahmā and the sages—implying that Linga-pūjā gains potency when performed in a place already sanctified (saṁskṛta) by tapas, mantra, and installation traditions.

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

Indirectly, it points to Shiva-tattva as the power that makes a place spiritually “adorned” and memorable: when a dwelling is aligned to dharma and consecration, it becomes a support for the Pashu’s movement toward Pati through removal of Pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tīrtha-sevana and residence in a consecrated abode—staying (tiṣṭhat) in a sanctified place as a supportive discipline for purification, steadiness of mind, and continuity of Shaiva worship (pūjā/vrata) aligned with Pāśupata-oriented restraint and devotion.