Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

वाराणसीमनुप्राप्य दर्शयामास शङ्करः अविमुक्तेश्वरं लिङ्गं वासं तत्र चकार सः

Transliteration

vārāṇasīmanuprāpya darśayāmāsa śaṅkaraḥ avimukteśvaraṃ liṅgaṃ vāsaṃ tatra cakāra saḥ

Translation

Having reached Vārāṇasī, Śaṅkara revealed the Avimukteśvara Liṅga, and He Himself made His abode there—establishing that holy place as the ever-unabandoned seat of the Pati who grants liberation to the bound paśu from the pāśa of bondage.

Word by Word

• वाराणसीम् (vārāṇasīm): Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)

• अनुप्राप्य (anuprāpya): having reached/attained

• दर्शयामास (darśayāmāsa): revealed, caused to be seen, manifested

• शङ्करः (śaṅkaraḥ): Śaṅkara, Lord Śiva

• अविमुक्तेश्वरम् (avimukteśvaram): Avimukteśvara, the Lord of the ‘never-abandoned’ (Kāśī)

• लिङ्गम् (liṅgam): Liṅga, the aniconic sign of Śiva

• वासम् (vāsam): dwelling, residence

• तत्र (tatra): there

• चकार (cakāra): made, established

• सः (saḥ): He

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Avimukteshvara
• Varanasi
• Kashi

FAQs

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

It establishes Avimukteśvara as a self-revealed Liṅga in Vārāṇasī and links Liṅga-darśana with Śiva’s permanent presence, making worship there especially liberation-oriented.

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

Śiva appears as Pati who freely reveals Himself (darśana) through the Liṅga and abides in a chosen kṣetra, indicating His immanence (presence in place and form) while remaining the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds tīrtha-based Liṅga-darśana and residence/worship in Kāśī; it supports a Śaiva practice of Liṅga-pūjā and kṣetra-sevā aimed at loosening pāśa (bondage) of the paśu through Śiva’s grace.