Shloka 72

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

अविमुक्ते सुखासीनं प्रणम्य वृषभध्वजम् अपृच्छत्क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यं भवानी हर्षितानना

Transliteration

avimukte sukhāsīnaṃ praṇamya vṛṣabhadhvajam apṛcchatkṣetramāhātmyaṃ bhavānī harṣitānanā

Translation

In Avimukta, Bhavānī—her face radiant with joy—bowed to Lord Śiva, the Bull-bannered One, as he sat at ease, and asked him about the sacred greatness of that holy field (kṣetra).

Word by Word

• अविमुक्ते: in Avimukta (Kāśī)

• सुख-आसीनम्: seated comfortably/at ease

• प्रणम्य: having bowed/prostrated

• वृषभ-ध्वजम्: the One whose banner bears the bull (Śiva)

• अपृच्छत्: asked/inquired

• क्षेत्र-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness/glory of the sacred place

• भवानी: Bhavānī (Pārvatī)

• हर्षित-आनना: with a delighted/joyful face

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal dialogue of Parvati and Shiva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It sets the narrative frame for kṣetra-māhātmya: the sanctity of Avimukta is presented as Śiva’s own revelation, making the place itself a support for devotion to Pati (Śiva) and for Linga-centered worship.

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

Śiva appears as the approachable Pati—serene, seated in ease, yet supremely worship-worthy—who grants knowledge when Śakti (Bhavānī) inquires, showing grace (anugraha) through teaching.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds praṇāma (reverential prostration) and śravaṇa/manana through inquiry into kṣetra-māhātmya—foundational acts that support Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner detachment from pāśa (bondage).