Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

होलिनेस्स् ओफ़् अविमुक्त श्रीभगवानुवाच इदं गुह्यतमं क्षेत्रं सदा वाराणसी मम सर्वेषामेव जन्तूनां हेतुर्मोक्षस्य सर्वदा

Transliteration

holiness of Avimukta śrībhagavānuvāca idaṃ guhyatamaṃ kṣetraṃ sadā vārāṇasī mama sarveṣāmeva jantūnāṃ heturmokṣasya sarvadā

Translation

The Blessed Lord said: “This is the most secret of sacred fields—my eternal Vārāṇasī. For all embodied beings it is ever the direct cause of liberation (mokṣa), through the grace of Pati (Śiva) who cuts the bonds (pāśa).”

Word by Word

• śrī-bhagavān uvāca: the Blessed Lord said

• idam: this

• guhyatamam: most secret, most esoteric

• kṣetram: sacred field/pilgrimage-region

• sadā: always, eternally

• vārāṇasī: Varanasi

• mama: my

• sarveṣām eva: of all indeed

• jantūnām: of living beings/creatures

• hetuḥ: cause, means

• mokṣasya: of liberation

• sarvadā: at all times

Speaker

Shiva (Śrī Bhagavān, as Lord of Avimukta)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Avimukta
• Varanasi (Vārāṇasī)

FAQs

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

It identifies Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) as Shiva’s own supreme kṣetra where proximity to Shiva—often through linga-sevā, japa, and kṣetra-dharma—becomes a powerful means for mokṣa.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati—the sovereign Lord who owns the kṣetra and grants liberation to paśus by removing pāśa (bondage), emphasizing grace (anugraha) as the decisive cause.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights kṣetra-vāsa and kṣetra-sevā (living in/serving the sacred field); in Shaiva terms this includes linga-pūjā, japa, and Pāśupata-oriented discipline pursued in Avimukta for mokṣa.