Shloka 131

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

Devanagari script

भागीरथीं समेष्यन्ति सर्वपर्वसु सुव्रते अविमुक्तेश्वरं दृष्ट्वा दृष्ट्वा चैव त्रिविष्टपम्

Transliteration

bhāgīrathīṃ sameṣyanti sarvaparvasu suvrate avimukteśvaraṃ dṛṣṭvā dṛṣṭvā caiva triviṣṭapam

Translation

O lady of noble vows, at every sacred festival they come to the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā). Again and again, having beheld Avimukteśvara—Śiva who never abandons Kāśī—they behold even Triviṣṭapa (heaven), for His sight loosens the pāśa (bondage) of the paśu (soul) and leads toward the state of the Pati (Lord).

Word by Word

• भागीरथीम्: the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā)

• समेष्यन्ति: they will come/assemble

• सर्व-पर्वसु: on all sacred occasions/festivals

• सुव्रते: O one of good vow (address to the listener, often Pārvatī)

• अविमुक्तेश्वरम्: Avimukteśvara, Lord Śiva of Avimukta (Kāśī)

• दृष्ट्वा दृष्ट्वा: having seen again and again

• च एव: and indeed

• त्रिविष्टपम्: Triviṣṭapa, heaven (the celestial realm).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the tirtha-mahatmya within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Shiva
• Avimukteshvara
• Trivishtapa

FAQs

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

It elevates Śiva-darśana at Avimukteśvara (Kāśī) as a direct, repeatable means of spiritual uplift—pilgrimage and reverent sight of the Lord function like linga-worship in a living kṣetra, dissolving bondage and granting the fruit symbolized as “heaven” and ultimately mokṣa.

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

Śiva is portrayed as Avimukteśvara—“the Lord who never abandons”—the Pati who remains accessible in the sacred field; repeated darśana signifies His grace as the liberating power that cuts pasha for the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tīrtha-yātrā and darśana-sevā: visiting Gaṅgā on festival days and repeatedly taking darśana of Avimukteśvara, a devotional discipline aligned with Pāśupata orientation (turning the paśu toward the Pati through sacred place, remembrance, and worship).