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

ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲೋ ಕಸ್ತೂರಿ ಜಿಂಕೆಗಳ ಗುಂಪುಗಳು ಸಂಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು; ಕೆಲವೆಡೆ ಹೊಸದಾಗಿ ಕೀಳಲಾದ ದರ್ಭ ಅಂಕುರಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಿದ ಹೂವಿನ ರಾಶಿಗಳು ಇದ್ದವು. ಮತ್ತೊಂದೆಡೆ ನಾನಾವಿಧ ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಅರಳಿದ ಪದ್ಮಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ ಸರೋವರ-ತೊರೆಗಳು ಆ ಪ್ರದೇಶವನ್ನು ಅಲಂಕರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು—ಇಂತೆ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಆ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರವು ಶೋಭಿಸಿತು।

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.