Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

पुष्पोत्करानिलविघूर्णितवारिरम्यं रम्यद्विरेफविनिपातितमञ्जुगुल्मम् गुल्मान्तरप्रसभभीतमृगीसमूहं वातेरितं तनुभृतामपवर्गदातृ

Transliteration

puṣpotkarānilavighūrṇitavāriramyaṃ ramyadvirephavinipātitamañjugulmam gulmāntaraprasabhabhītamṛgīsamūhaṃ vāteritaṃ tanubhṛtāmapavargadātṛ

Translation

O Bestower of liberation upon embodied souls (paśu): that holy grove is made lovely by waters rippling under breezes laden with heaps of flowers; its tender shrubs are graced as swarms of bees descend upon them; within the thickets, startled herds of does scatter in sudden fear—everything is stirred by the wind, while You remain the Pati who grants apavarga, release from the bonds (pāśa) of saṁsāra.

Word by Word

• पुष्पोत्कर (puṣpotkara): heaps/masses of flowers

• अनिल (anila): breeze/wind

• विघूर्णित (vighūrṇita): whirled/ruffled into motion

• वारि (vāri): water

• रम्य (ramya): delightful/beautiful

• द्विरेफ (dvirepha): bee

• विनिपातित (vinipātita): caused to alight/fall upon

• मञ्जु (mañju): gentle/pleasant/tender

• गुल्म (gulma): shrub/thicket

• गुल्मान्तर (gulmāntara): within/among the thickets

• प्रसभ (prasabha): sudden/forceful

• भीत (bhīta): frightened

• मृगी (mṛgī): doe/female deer

• समूह (samūha): herd/group

• वातेरित (vāterita): impelled/stirred by the wind

• तनुभृताम् (tanubhṛtām): of embodied beings

• अपवर्गदातृ (apavarga-dātṛ): giver of liberation/mokṣa

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 frames the Shiva-kshetra as a living sign of the Linga’s sanctity: nature’s beauty becomes an offering-field, while Shiva is praised as apavarga-dātṛ—showing that true fruit of worship is moksha, not merely worldly merit.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati—the sovereign consciousness beyond the moving winds and changing scenery—who alone can cut the pāśa (bondage) of embodied pashus and grant apavarga (release).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Kshetra-smaraṇa and stuti (contemplative praise) are emphasized: seeing the sacred landscape as Shiva’s domain supports Pashupata-style vairāgya—remaining inwardly free while the senses encounter beauty.