Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

विटपनिचयलीनं नीलकण्ठाभिरामं मदमुदितविहङ्गं प्राप्तनादाभिरामम् कुसुमिततरुशाखालीनमत्तद्विरेफं नवकिसलयशोभाशोभितं प्रांशुशाखम्

Transliteration

viṭapanicayalīnaṃ nīlakaṇṭhābhirāmaṃ madamuditavihaṅgaṃ prāptanādābhirāmam kusumitataruśākhālīnamattadvirephaṃ navakisalayaśobhāśobhitaṃ prāṃśuśākham

Translation

Ce bosquet était enveloppé de massifs d’arbres, charmant par la présence du Seigneur à la Gorge Bleue (Nīlakaṇṭha), Śiva. Des oiseaux, dans l’allégresse, l’emplissaient d’appels mélodieux. Sur les branches fleuries, des abeilles enivrées s’agrippaient en bourdonnant; et les hautes ramures luisaient, embellies par l’éclat des jeunes pousses nouvelles—un bois de bon augure, digne du culte du Pati, le Seigneur qui desserre le pāśa (lien) du paśu (âme).

Word by Word

• viṭapa-nicaya-līnam: hidden/ensconced among masses of trees

• nīla-kaṇṭha-abhirāmam: delightful due to (the presence/beauty of) Nīlakaṇṭha (Shiva, the Blue-throated)

• mada-mudita-vihaṅgam: with birds made joyful and intoxicated (by delight)

• prāpta-nāda-abhirāmam: charming with resounding/arrived songs and sounds

• kusumita-taru-śākhā-līna: where (they) cling/settle on the branches of flowering trees

• matta-dvirepham: with intoxicated bees

• nava-kisalaya-śobhā-śobhitam: adorned by the beauty of new tender shoots

• prāṃśu-śākham: having lofty/tall branches

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Nīlakaṇṭha)

FAQs

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

The verse sacralizes the setting of worship: the grove’s auspicious sounds, blossoms, and bees signify a purified kṣetra where the pashu approaches Pati through devotion, making the environment itself supportive of liṅga-arcana.

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

By invoking Nīlakaṇṭha, it points to Shiva’s compassionate mastery over poison and suffering—Pati who remains untouched yet protects beings—whose presence transforms the world into a harmonious field of consciousness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implies kṣetra-śuddhi and manas-śuddhi: preparing a pure place and a collected mind through Shiva-smarana and attentive listening (nāda), which aligns with Pāśupata orientation toward inner stillness and devotion.