Shloka 174

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

Devanagari script

जलेन केवलेनैव गन्धतोयेन भक्तितः अनुलेपनं तु तत् सर्वं पञ्चविंशत्पलेन वै

Transliteration

jalena kevalenaiva gandhatoyena bhaktitaḥ anulepanaṃ tu tat sarvaṃ pañcaviṃśatpalena vai

Translation

Mit reinem Wasser allein—oder mit duftendem, wohlriechendem Wasser—wenn es in Bhakti dargebracht wird, soll der gesamte Akt des Salbens (anulepana) des Liṅga im Maß von fünfundzwanzig Palas vollzogen werden.

Word by Word

• जलेन: with water

• केवलेन: alone, unmixed

• एव: indeed

• गन्धतोयेन: with scented/fragrant water

• भक्तितः: through devotion, devotedly

• अनुलेपनम्: anointing/smearing (ritual application)

• तु: and/indeed

• तत्: that

• सर्वम्: all, entire

• पञ्चविंशत्पलेन: with twenty-five palas (a ritual measure/weight)

• वै: certainly

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja procedures to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It standardizes the abhisheka/anointing practice: even simple water becomes fully efficacious when offered with bhakti, and the rite is to be performed with a prescribed measure (twenty-five palas), reflecting disciplined Shiva-puja.

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

Shiva-tattva is approached as Pati (the Lord) who accepts the devotee’s offering by inner devotion rather than luxury; the external substance (plain or scented water) is secondary to bhakti and proper observance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A puja-vidhi element of Linga abhisheka/anulepana is highlighted—ritual anointing with water (or fragrant water) done in a measured, rule-governed way, supporting the devotee’s purification and loosening of pasha (bondage) for the pashu (soul).