Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा पापसहस्राणि पिशाचत्वं वरं नृणाम् न तु शक्रसहस्रत्वं स्वर्गे काशीपुरीं विना

Transliteration

kṛtvā pāpasahasrāṇi piśācatvaṃ varaṃ nṛṇām na tu śakrasahasratvaṃ svarge kāśīpurīṃ vinā

Translation

Même après avoir commis des milliers de péchés, il vaut mieux pour l’homme tomber dans l’état de piśāca que d’obtenir au ciel mille fois la dignité d’Indra, si c’est sans Kāśī-purī—la cité de Śiva qui accorde la délivrance des liens (pāśa) du saṃsāra.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done/committed

• पापसहस्राणि (pāpa-sahasrāṇi): thousands of sins

• पिशाचत्वं (piśācatvam): the condition/state of a piśāca (ghostly being)

• वरं (varam): better/preferable

• नृणाम् (nṛṇām): of men/for human beings

• न (na): not

• तु (tu): but/indeed

• शक्रसहस्रत्वं (śakra-sahasratvam): a thousandfold status of Śakra (Indra-hood)

• स्वर्गे (svarge): in heaven

• काशीपुरीं (kāśī-purīm): the city of Kāśī

• विना (vinā): without.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kashi-mahatmya within the Linga Purana’s discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashi
• Shakra (Indra)
• Svarga

FAQs

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

It elevates Śiva’s kṣetra (Kāśī) above even heavenly sovereignty, implying that proximity to Śiva (Pati) and His abode is more salvific for the pashu than any celestial reward.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as the liberating principle: heaven is still within bondage (pāśa), while Kāśī—belonging to Śiva—signifies the sphere where grace breaks the fetters of saṃsāra for the soul (pashu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is kṣetra-sevā and Śiva-smaraṇa centered on Kāśī/Avimukta—pilgrimage, worship of the Liṅga, and steady remembrance of Mahādeva as a direct aid to liberation rather than mere merit-seeking.