Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

वाराणसीमनुप्राप्य दर्शयामास शङ्करः अविमुक्तेश्वरं लिङ्गं वासं तत्र चकार सः

Transliteration

vārāṇasīmanuprāpya darśayāmāsa śaṅkaraḥ avimukteśvaraṃ liṅgaṃ vāsaṃ tatra cakāra saḥ

Translation

Parvenu à Vārāṇasī, Śaṅkara manifesta le Liṅga d’Avimukteśvara, et Lui-même y établit sa demeure, faisant de ce lieu sacré le siège jamais délaissé du Pati, qui accorde la délivrance aux paśu de leurs pāśa.

Word by Word

• वाराणसीम् (vārāṇasīm): Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)

• अनुप्राप्य (anuprāpya): having reached/attained

• दर्शयामास (darśayāmāsa): revealed, caused to be seen, manifested

• शङ्करः (śaṅkaraḥ): Śaṅkara, Lord Śiva

• अविमुक्तेश्वरम् (avimukteśvaram): Avimukteśvara, the Lord of the ‘never-abandoned’ (Kāśī)

• लिङ्गम् (liṅgam): Liṅga, the aniconic sign of Śiva

• वासम् (vāsam): dwelling, residence

• तत्र (tatra): there

• चकार (cakāra): made, established

• सः (saḥ): He

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Avimukteshvara
• Varanasi
• Kashi

FAQs

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

It establishes Avimukteśvara as a self-revealed Liṅga in Vārāṇasī and links Liṅga-darśana with Śiva’s permanent presence, making worship there especially liberation-oriented.

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

Śiva appears as Pati who freely reveals Himself (darśana) through the Liṅga and abides in a chosen kṣetra, indicating His immanence (presence in place and form) while remaining the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds tīrtha-based Liṅga-darśana and residence/worship in Kāśī; it supports a Śaiva practice of Liṅga-pūjā and kṣetra-sevā aimed at loosening pāśa (bondage) of the paśu through Śiva’s grace.