Shloka 30

Devanagari script

अविमुक्तेश्वरं प्राप्य वाराणस्यां जनार्दनः क्षीरेण चाभिषिच्येशं देवदेवं त्रियंबकम्

Transliteration

avimukteśvaraṃ prāpya vārāṇasyāṃ janārdanaḥ kṣīreṇa cābhiṣicyeśaṃ devadevaṃ triyaṃbakam

Translation

Having reached Avimukteśvara in Vārāṇasī, Janārdana (Viṣṇu) bathed the Lord with milk in abhiṣeka, worshipping Īśa—the God of gods—Tryambaka, the Three‑eyed Pati who frees the bound soul (paśu) from its fetters (pāśa).

Word by Word

• अविमुक्तेश्वरम्: Avimukteśvara (Shiva as the Lord of the ‘Never-abandoned’ sacred field)

• प्राप्य: having reached

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

• क्षीरेण: with milk

• च: and

• अभिषिच्य: having performed abhiṣeka/bathing

• ईशम्: the Lord (Īśa, Shiva)

• देवदेवम्: God of gods

• त्रियंबकम्: Tryambaka, the Three‑eyed Lord

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Avimukteshvara
• Varanasi (Kashi)

FAQs

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

It presents a model of Śiva-liṅga worship in Avimukta (Kāśī): even Janārdana (Viṣṇu) performs milk-abhiṣeka to Avimukteśvara, underscoring Śiva-pūjā as a direct means to grace in the foremost sacred kṣetra.

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

Śiva is named Īśa, Devadeva, and Tryambaka—signaling Him as Pati (the supreme Lord) whose all-seeing awareness (three eyes) transcends and dissolves the bonds that limit the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Milk-abhiṣeka (ritual bathing) of the liṅga/Īśvara is highlighted—an external pūjā-act aligned with Pāśupata intent: purification, surrender, and seeking the Lord’s anugraha (liberating grace).