Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33
विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्
Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission
कंदुकेश्वरलिंगं च काश्यां दुष्टनिबर्हणम् । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं सर्वकामदं सर्वदा सताम्
kaṃdukeśvaraliṃgaṃ ca kāśyāṃ duṣṭanibarhaṇam | bhuktimuktipradaṃ sarvakāmadaṃ sarvadā satām
In Kāśī befindet sich der Liṅga Kāṃdukeśvara, der die Frevler vernichtet. Er verleiht sowohl bhukti als auch mukti und gewährt den tugendhaften Verehrern stets alle gewünschten Ziele.
Suta Goswami (narrating the tīrtha-māhātmya to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is celebrated as Śiva’s own city; within that sacred geography this verse praises the Kāṃdukeśvara-liṅga as a kṣetra-liṅga that destroys wickedness and grants both bhukti and mukti to the sādhus.
Significance: Darśana/arcana is said to remove pāpa and obstacles (duṣṭa-nibarhaṇa) and to grant both worldly fulfillment and liberation—typical Kāśī-phala combining artha/kāma with mokṣa.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse presents the Kāṃdukeśvara Liṅga in Kāśī as a compassionate yet disciplining presence of Pati (Śiva): it removes adharmic tendencies (“the wicked”) and grants both bhukti (rightful worldly flourishing) and mukti (liberation) to sincere, virtuous devotees.
It affirms the Liṅga as Saguna Śiva’s accessible form in a sacred kṣetra (Kāśī), where worship—offering, mantra, and reverence—yields tangible fruits (sarvakāma) and the highest fruit (mokṣa), showing the Liṅga as a bridge from worldly aims to liberation.
A practical takeaway is regular Liṅga-pūjā in Kāśī (or mentally, with devotion): abhiṣeka with water, bilva offerings, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking purification of conduct and the twin grace of bhukti and mukti.