Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

प्रयागे वा भवेन्मोक्ष इह वा मत्परिग्रहात् प्रयागादपि तीर्थाग्र्याद् अविमुक्तमिदं शुभम्

Transliteration

prayāge vā bhavenmokṣa iha vā matparigrahāt prayāgādapi tīrthāgryād avimuktamidaṃ śubham

Translation

Liberation may be attained at Prayāga—or here itself, by being received into my grace. This auspicious Avimukta is even superior to Prayāga, the foremost of sacred fords.

Word by Word

• प्रयागे: at Prayāga

• वा: or

• भवेत्: may occur/come to be

• मोक्षः: liberation

• इह: here (in this place)

• वा: or

• मत्परिग्रहात्: through my acceptance/favor (by me, the Pati)

• प्रयागात् अपि: even than Prayāga

• तीर्थ-अग्र्यात्: than the foremost of tīrthas

• अविमुक्तम्: Avimukta (Kāśī, the never-abandoned sacred realm)

• इदम्: this

• शुभम्: auspicious, beneficent

Speaker

Shiva (as Pati, declaring the salvific greatness of Avimukta/Kashi)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prayaga
• Avimukta (Kashi)

FAQs

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

It places moksha not merely in pilgrimage merit, but in Shiva’s anugraha—implying that true tirtha-fruit is fulfilled when the devotee becomes “accepted” by the Lord worshipped as the Linga (Pati).

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

Shiva is presented as Pati, the sovereign giver of liberation: sacred places can aid the Pashu, but release from pāśa (bondage) ultimately occurs by Shiva’s gracious acceptance (mat-parigraha).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati/bhakti culminating in Shiva’s anugraha; pilgrimage to Prayāga or Avimukta is secondary to inner surrender and steadfast Shaiva worship aligned with Pāśupata intent.