Shloka 73

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

अथवारिष्टमालोक्य मरणे समुपस्थिते अविमुक्तेश्वरं गत्वा वाराणस्यां तु शोधनम्

Transliteration

athavāriṣṭamālokya maraṇe samupasthite avimukteśvaraṃ gatvā vārāṇasyāṃ tu śodhanam

Translation

Entonces, al ver los presagios funestos y sabiendo que la muerte está cerca, debe ir a Avimukteśvara; en Vārāṇasī hay, en verdad, purificación (del alma atada), por el Señor que es Pati.

Word by Word

• atha: then

• vā: or/indeed

• ariṣṭam: evil omen, fatal portent

• ālokya: having seen

• maraṇe: in/at death

• samupasthite: when it has approached, when it is imminent

• avimukteśvaram: Avimukteśvara (Śiva, Lord of Avimukta/Varanasi)

• gatvā: having gone

• vārāṇasyām: in Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)

• tu: indeed

• śodhanam: purification, cleansing (of pāpa and pāśa-bondage).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Avimukteshvara
• Varanasi (Kashi)

FAQs

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

It links the Linga-Lord as Avimukteśvara with end-of-life purification, teaching that approaching Śiva in Kāśī is a direct means for the pashu (soul) to be cleansed of bondage.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the sovereign purifier who remains “unforsaking” (Avimukta) and who can remove pāśa (bondage) even when death is imminent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A kṣetra-based śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) practice: going to Avimukteśvara in Vārāṇasī at life’s end for śodhana—purificatory grace that supports liberation.