Shloka 101

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

Devanagari script

गणत्वं लभते दृष्ट्वा ह्य् अस्मिन्मोक्षो ह्यवाप्यते गाणपत्यं लभेद्यस्माद् यतः सा मुक्तिरुत्तमा

Transliteration

gaṇatvaṃ labhate dṛṣṭvā hy asminmokṣo hyavāpyate gāṇapatyaṃ labhedyasmād yataḥ sā muktiruttamā

Translation

By beholding Him, one attains the status of a Gaṇa; indeed, liberation is attained here. From this, one gains the state of belonging to Gaṇapati, the Lord of the Gaṇas, for that liberation is the highest.

Word by Word

• गणत्वम् (gaṇatvam): the state/status of a Gaṇa

• लभते (labhate): attains

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen/by beholding

• हि (hi): indeed

• अस्मिन् (asmin): in/through this (here)

• मोक्षः (mokṣaḥ): liberation

• अवाप्यते (avāpyate): is obtained

• गाणपत्यम् (gāṇapatyam): the condition of belonging to/being devoted to Gaṇapati (Gaṇa‑lordship/affiliation)

• लभेत् (labhet): may attain

• यस्मात् (yasmāt): because/from which

• यतः (yataḥ): since/for

• सा (sā): that

• मुक्तिः (muktiḥ): liberation

• उत्तमा (uttamā): supreme/highest

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Ganapati
• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It links sacred vision (darśana) and devotion to Shiva’s divine retinue (Gaṇas) with mokṣa, implying that proximity to Shiva’s sphere—through worship and grace—dissolves pasha (bondage) for the paśu (soul).

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

Shiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—whose grace elevates the paśu beyond ordinary identity into divine belonging (gaṇatva) and culminates in uttamā mukti (supreme liberation).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is darśana grounded in devotion—approaching the Lord’s presence (often through Liṅga-pūjā and attendant observances), which in Shaiva framing functions as a grace-bearing upāya leading toward liberation.