Shloka 39

Shivamurti–Pratishtha Phala: Shivalaya-Nirmana, Kshetra-Mahatmya, Tirtha-Snana, and Mandala-Vidhi

Devanagari script

केदारे च महाक्षेत्रे प्रयागे च विशेषतः कुरुक्षेत्रे च यः प्राणान् संत्यजेद्याति निर्वृतिम्

Transliteration

kedāre ca mahākṣetre prayāge ca viśeṣataḥ kurukṣetre ca yaḥ prāṇān saṃtyajedyāti nirvṛtim

Translation

Quiconque abandonne le souffle de vie à Kedāra, dans le grand champ sacré (Mahākṣetra), tout particulièrement à Prayāga, ou à Kurukṣetra, atteint la nirvṛti — paix ultime et délivrance — par la grâce de Pati (Śiva), qui tranche les liens du pāśa enchaînant le paśu.

Word by Word

• केदारे (kedāre): at Kedāra

• च (ca): and

• महाक्षेत्रे (mahākṣetre): in the great sacred kṣetra/holy field

• प्रयागे (prayāge): at Prayāga

• च (ca): and

• विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ): especially/with special emphasis

• कुरुक्षेत्रे (kurukṣetre): at Kurukṣetra

• च (ca): and

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• प्राणान् (prāṇān): the life-breaths/vital airs

• संत्यजेत् (saṃtyajet): gives up/relinquishes

• याति (yāti): goes/attains

• निर्वृतिम् (nirvṛtim): peace, quiescence, liberation.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kedara
• Prayaga
• Kurukshetra

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s kṣetras (especially Kedāra and Prayāga) are charged with liṅga-śakti; departing life there is said to grant nirvṛti, meaning the soul (paśu) is freed from bondage (pāśa) through Pati’s grace.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the supreme Lord who bestows śānti and mokṣa; the kṣetra is not merely geography but a field where Shiva-tattva is especially accessible and liberating.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tīrtha-sevā and kṣetra-vāsa (pilgrimage, residence, and dying with remembrance of Śiva) are highlighted as mokṣa-supporting disciplines, aligning with Pāśupata ideals of turning the prāṇas toward the Lord at life’s end.