Shloka 120

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

Devanagari script

तामुवाच सुरश्रेष्ठस् तदा देवीं गिरीन्द्रजाम् श्रीभगवानुवाच मदीयं व्रतमाश्रित्य भक्तिमद्भिर् द्विजोत्तमैः

Transliteration

tāmuvāca suraśreṣṭhas tadā devīṃ girīndrajām śrībhagavānuvāca madīyaṃ vratamāśritya bhaktimadbhir dvijottamaiḥ

Translation

Then the foremost among the gods addressed the Goddess, the daughter of the Lord of mountains. The Blessed Lord said: “Relying upon My sacred observance (vrata), the best of the twice-born, endowed with devotion, attain its fruit.”

Word by Word

• ताम् (tām): her

• उवाच (uvāca): spoke/addressed

• सुरश्रेष्ठः (sura-śreṣṭhaḥ): the best among the gods

• तदा (tadā): then

• देवीम् (devīm): the Goddess

• गिरीन्द्रजाम् (girīndra-jām): the daughter of the Lord of mountains (Pārvatī)

• श्रीभगवान् (śrī-bhagavān): the Blessed Lord (Śiva)

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• मदीयम् (madīyam): My

• व्रतम् (vratam): vow/observance

• आश्रित्य (āśritya): taking refuge in/relying upon

• भक्तिमद्भिः (bhaktimadbhiḥ): by those possessed of devotion

• द्विजोत्तमैः (dvijottamaiḥ): by the best of the twice-born (excellent brāhmaṇas).

Speaker

Shiva (Śrī Bhagavān), addressing Parvati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered practice as a Shiva-ordained vrata: when performed with bhakti and disciplined observance, it becomes an effective means for approaching Pati (Śiva) and receiving the vow’s fruit.

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

Śiva appears as Pati—the Lord who establishes the path (vrata) and grants results, showing that liberation and merit are not merely mechanical ritual outcomes but arise through His grace accessed by devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Shaiva vrata grounded in bhakti—typically expressed through regulated worship (often Linga-pūjā), purity, and disciplined conduct—hinting at the Pāśupata principle that inner devotion empowers outer observance.