Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

क्वचित् क्वचिद् गन्धकदम्बकैर् मृगैर् विलूनदर्भाङ्कुरपुष्पसंचयम् प्रफुल्लनानाविधचारुपङ्कजैः सरस्तडागैरुपशोभितं क्वचित्

Transliteration

kvacit kvacid gandhakadambakair mṛgair vilūnadarbhāṅkurapuṣpasaṃcayam praphullanānāvidhacārupaṅkajaiḥ sarastaḍāgairupaśobhitaṃ kvacit

Translation

ところどころには麝香鹿が遊び歩き、景は飾られていた。ある場所には摘み取られたばかりのダルバ草の若芽と集められた花々が積まれ、また別の場所では、湖や池が多種の美しい蓮華で満ち、ことごとく盛りに咲いて輝いていた。かくして聖なる地は、さまざまに荘厳されていた。

Word by Word

• kvacit kvacid: here and there

• gandhaka-dambakaiḥ: with musk (fragrance) in abundance / by musk-bearing (deer)

• mṛgaiḥ: by deer

• vilūna: plucked, gathered

• darbha-aṅkura: young shoots of darbha grass (ritual kuśa)

• puṣpa-saṃcayam: collection/heaps of flowers

• praphulla: fully blossomed

• nānā-vidha: of many varieties

• cāru: charming, beautiful

• paṅkajaiḥ: by lotuses

• saras: lakes

• taḍāgaiḥ: ponds/tanks

• upaśobhitaṃ: made splendid, adorned

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?

It highlights the ritual ecosystem of Linga-pūjā—darbha grass and flowers gathered for worship, and a tirtha-like environment that supports purity (śauca) and devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By portraying a sanctified landscape naturally oriented to worship, it implies Shiva-tattva as Pati—the presence that consecrates space, drawing pashus (souls) toward upliftment through sacred order and beauty.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Preparation for pūjā through collecting darbha and flowers (upacāra-sādhana), and the yogic emphasis on a pure, sattvic setting conducive to Pāśupata-oriented contemplation.