Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

हंसानां पक्षवातप्रचलितकमलस्वच्छविस्तीर्णतोयं तोयानां तीरजातप्रचकितकदलीचाटुनृत्यन्मयूरम् मायूरैः पक्षचन्द्रैः क्वचिदवनिगतै रञ्जितक्ष्माप्रदेशं देशे देशे विलीनप्रमुदितविलसन्मत्तहारीतवृन्दम्

Transliteration

haṃsānāṃ pakṣavātapracalitakamalasvacchavistīrṇatoyaṃ toyānāṃ tīrajātapracakitakadalīcāṭunṛtyanmayūram māyūraiḥ pakṣacandraiḥ kvacidavanigatai rañjitakṣmāpradeśaṃ deśe deśe vilīnapramuditavilasanmattahārītavṛndam

Translation

Ses eaux étaient vastes et d’une limpidité cristalline, les lotus frémissant sous la brise née du battement des ailes des cygnes. Le long des rives, des paons dansaient de joie parmi les bananiers, comme éveillés à une grâce soudaine ; çà et là, des plumes de paon tombées, pareilles à des lunes, teintaient la terre de beauté. En tout lieu, des volées de perroquets verts, ivres d’allégresse, se fondaient dans les bosquets puis reparaissaient, rayonnants et heureux — faisant de cette contrée un domaine visiblement de bon augure, digne de la présence et du culte de Śiva.

Word by Word

• हंसानाम्: of swans

• पक्ष-वात: wind (breeze) from wings

• प्रचलित: set in motion, made to tremble

• कमल: lotus

• स्वच्छ: clear, pure

• विस्तीर्ण: expansive, spread out

• तोयम्: water

• तोयानाम्: of waters/at the waters

• तीर-जात: arisen on the bank, situated on the shore

• प्रचकित: startled, suddenly excited

• कदली: plantain/banana grove

• चाटु: charming, graceful

• नृत्यन्: dancing

• मयूरम्: peacock(s)

• मयूरैः: by/with peacocks

• पक्ष-चन्द्रैः: ‘wing-moons’ (moonlike feathers/plumes)

• क्वचित्: somewhere, here and there

• अवनि-गतैः: fallen to the ground

• रञ्जित: colored, beautified

• क्ष्मा-प्रदेशम्: region of the earth/tract of land

• देशे देशे: in place after place, everywhere

• विलीन: disappearing, merging (into foliage)

• प्रमुदित: delighted

• विलसन्: shining, sporting

• मत्त: intoxicated (with joy)

• हारीत-वृन्दम्: flocks of green parrots

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a kshetra-prashasti: it marks the land as intrinsically pure and auspicious (śuddha-deśa), a supportive outer condition for Linga-puja where the devotee (paśu) approaches Pati (Shiva) through cleanliness, serenity, and sattvic surroundings.

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

By portraying a landscape that spontaneously radiates harmony and beauty, the verse implies Shiva as the immanent Pati whose presence sanctifies the field of experience; the ordered joy of nature hints at Shiva-tattva as the quiet ground in which the world’s movements become auspicious rather than binding.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It primarily supports kshetra-sevana and dhyana: choosing a pure tirtha-like place for japa, meditation, and Linga-puja. Indirectly, it aligns with Pashupata discipline by cultivating inner calm through outer purity, reducing pasha (bondage) born of agitation.