Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

फुल्लोत्पलांबुजवितानसहस्रयुक्तं तोयाशयैः समनुशोभितदेवमार्गम् मार्गान्तराकलितपुष्पविचित्रपङ्क्तिसम्बद्धगुल्मविटपैर् विविधैरुपेतम्

Transliteration

phullotpalāṃbujavitānasahasrayuktaṃ toyāśayaiḥ samanuśobhitadevamārgam mārgāntarākalitapuṣpavicitrapaṅktisambaddhagulmaviṭapair vividhairupetam

Translation

That divine pathway was adorned with countless canopies of fully blossomed lotuses and water-lilies, and beautified on every side by shining ponds and reservoirs. Along its branching byways were arranged rows of flowers in varied designs, and it was richly furnished with many kinds of shrubs and spreading creepers—an auspicious approach fit for the worship of Pati, Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• फुल्ल (phulla): fully blossomed

• उत्पल (utpala): water-lily

• अम्बुज (ambuja): lotus

• वितान (vitāna): canopy/awning

• सहस्र (sahasra): thousand, countless

• युक्तम् (yuktam): endowed with, furnished with

• तोयाशयैः (toyāśayaiḥ): with water-reservoirs/ponds

• समनुशोभित (samanuśobhita): beautifully adorned on all sides

• देवमार्गम् (devamārgam): the divine path/road

• मार्गान्तर (mārgāntara): side-paths, branching ways

• आकलित (ākalita): arranged, set with

• पुष्प (puṣpa): flowers

• विचित्र (vicitra): variegated, wondrous

• पङ्क्ति (paṅkti): row/line

• सम्बद्ध (sambaddha): connected, interlinked

• गुल्म (gulma): shrubs/bushes

• विटप (viṭapa): branches, creepers, spreading growth

• विविधैः (vividhaiḥ): of many kinds

• उपेतम् (upetam): accompanied by, filled with

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 presents the deva-mārga (approach to the sacred presence) as ritually pure and auspicious—water, flowers, and ordered beauty prepare the pashu (worshipper) to approach Pati (Śiva) with steadiness and devotion before Linga-pūjā.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the supreme Pati whose nearness sanctifies space itself; the ordered, luminous landscape symbolizes the movement from pasha (bondage and disorder) toward Śiva’s auspiciousness (śivam) and clarity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights pūjā-śuddhi and upacāra-bhāva: preparing the approach with water and flowers mirrors inner preparation in Pāśupata discipline—calming the mind, cultivating purity, and entering worship with focused reverence.