Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

प्रफुल्लनानाविधगुल्मशोभितं लताप्रतानादिमनोहरं बहिः विरूढपुष्पैः परितः प्रियङ्गुभिः सुपुष्पितैः कण्टकितैश् च केतकैः

Transliteration

praphullanānāvidhagulmaśobhitaṃ latāpratānādimanoharaṃ bahiḥ virūḍhapuṣpaiḥ paritaḥ priyaṅgubhiḥ supuṣpitaiḥ kaṇṭakitaiś ca ketakaiḥ

Translation

Outside it was enchanting—adorned with many kinds of shrubs in full bloom, made delightful by spreading creepers and trailing vines. All around it was ringed with priyaṅgu plants heavy with opened blossoms, and with richly flowered ketaka (screw-pine) thickets, bristling with thorns.

Word by Word

• प्रफुल्ल (praphulla): fully blossomed

• नानाविध (nānāvidha): of many kinds

• गुल्म (gulma): shrubs/bushes

• शोभितम् (śobhitam): adorned, beautified

• लता (latā): creeper

• प्रतान (pratāna): spreading expanse/cluster

• आदि (ādi): and the like

• मनोहरम् (manoharam): charming, captivating

• बहिः (bahiḥ): outside/externally

• विरूढ (virūḍha): grown, well-developed

• पुष्पैः (puṣpaiḥ): with flowers (instrumental plural)

• परितः (paritaḥ): all around

• प्रियङ्गुभिः (priyaṅgubhiḥ): with priyaṅgu plants

• सुपुष्पितैः (supuṣpitaiḥ): well-flowered, abundantly blossoming

• कण्टकितैः (kaṇṭakitaiḥ): thorny, bristling with thorns

• च (ca): and

• केतकैः (ketakaiḥ): with ketaka plants (screw-pine).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that the outer environment for Linga-puja should be a purified, auspicious space—rich in natural beauty and flower-bearing plants—supporting sattva and steadiness of mind for devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

By portraying a naturally resplendent and ordered sacred landscape, the verse reflects Shiva as Pati—the harmonizing ground of purity and auspiciousness—where the pashu (soul) can approach worship free from coarse disturbances (pāśa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to preparatory discipline (bahya-śauca and deśa-śuddhi): arranging a clean, sanctified worship-site with flowers and sacred flora before undertaking Shiva-puja or contemplative practice aligned with Pashupata orientation.