Shloka 181

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

Devanagari script

कृतं वा न कृतं वापि क्षन्तुमर्हसि शङ्कर इत्युक्त्वा वै जपेद्रुद्रं त्वरितं शान्तिमेव च

Transliteration

kṛtaṃ vā na kṛtaṃ vāpi kṣantumarhasi śaṅkara ityuktvā vai japedrudraṃ tvaritaṃ śāntimeva ca

Translation

“ചെയ്തതായാലും ചെയ്‌തില്ലായാലും—ഹേ ശങ്കരാ, ക്ഷമിക്കുവാൻ അർഹൻ നീ തന്നേ.” എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ് രുദ്രജപം ചെയ്യണം; അതിനാൽ വേഗത്തിൽ ശാന്തി ലഭിക്കും।

Word by Word

• कृतं (kṛtaṃ): done, committed

• वा (vā): or

• न कृतं (na kṛtaṃ): not done, not committed

• वापि (vāpi): or even

• क्षन्तुम् (kṣantum): to forgive

• अर्हसि (arhasi): you are fit/you ought

• शङ्कर (śaṅkara): O Śiva, the beneficent

• इति (iti): thus

• उक्त्वा (uktvā): having said

• वै (vai): indeed

• जपेत् (japet): one should repeat/chant

• रुद्रं (rudraṃ): Rudra (Rudra-mantra/Rudra-hymn)

• त्वरितं (tvaritaṃ): quickly, swiftly

• शान्तिम् (śāntim): peace, pacification

• एव (eva): certainly

• च (ca): and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed prayer and Rudra-japa as a remedy)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered devotion as grounded in Śiva’s grace (anugraha): the devotee first offers kṣamā-prārthanā (a plea for forgiveness) and then performs Rudra-japa, which purifies the pashu (bound soul) and brings śānti suitable for worship.

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

Śiva is presented as Śaṅkara—the beneficent Pati (Lord) whose essential function includes forgiveness and pacification; by turning to him with humility, bondage-born agitation is calmed and peace arises through his anugraha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Rudra-japa is the key practice: a mantra-repetition discipline used as prāyaścitta (atonement) and as a Pāśupata-style inner purification leading quickly to śānti.