Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

कथितानि मम क्षेत्रे गुह्यं चान्यदिदं शृणु चतुःक्रोशं चतुर्दिक्षु क्षेत्रमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

kathitāni mama kṣetre guhyaṃ cānyadidaṃ śṛṇu catuḥkrośaṃ caturdikṣu kṣetrametatprakīrtitam

Translation

મારા આ ક્ષેત્ર વિશે કહેવામાં આવ્યું છે; હવે તેનો બીજો એક ગુહ્ય વિષય સાંભળો. આ પવિત્ર ક્ષેત્ર ચારેય દિશામાં ચાર ક્રોશ સુધી વિસ્તરેલું કહેવાય છે.

Word by Word

• कथितानि: have been spoken/declared

• मम: my

• क्षेत्रे: in the sacred field (kṣetra)

• गुह्यम्: secret, esoteric matter

• च: and

• अन्यत्: another (teaching/detail)

• इदम्: this

• शृणु: listen

• चतुःक्रोशम्: four krośas (a traditional measure of distance)

• चतुर्दिक्षु: in the four directions

• क्षेत्रम्: sacred region/field

• एतत्: this

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed/celebrated in tradition

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the kshetra teaching within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the sacred jurisdiction (kṣetra-maryādā) of Shiva’s field—implying that Linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata performed within this four-krośa zone bear intensified merit and quicker purification of pāśa (bondage).

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

Shiva is presented as Pati—the sovereign of the kṣetra—whose grace operates through sacred space; the “secret” indicates that His presence is not merely symbolic but actively sanctifies a measurable field for the uplift of pashus (bound souls).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Kṣetra-sevā: pilgrimage-circulation, residence, and worship within the four-krośa boundary—supporting Linga-pūjā, japa, and Pāśupata-oriented disciplines aimed at loosening pāśa and turning the pashu toward Pati.