Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

मम क्षेत्रमिदं तस्माद् अविमुक्तमिति स्मृतम् नैमिषे च कुरुक्षेत्रे गङ्गाद्वारे च पुष्करे

Transliteration

mama kṣetramidaṃ tasmād avimuktamiti smṛtam naimiṣe ca kurukṣetre gaṅgādvāre ca puṣkare

Translation

ഇത് എന്റെ ക്ഷേത്രം; അതുകൊണ്ട് ഇതിനെ ‘അവിമുക്തം’—ഞാൻ ഒരിക്കലും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കാത്ത സ്ഥലം—എന്ന് സ്മരിക്കുന്നു. നൈമിഷം, കുരുക്ഷേത്രം, ഗംഗാദ്വാരം, പുഷ്കരം എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിലും എന്റെ പവിത്ര സന്നിധി അറിയപ്പെടണം.

Word by Word

• mama: My

• kṣetram: sacred field/holy region

• idam: this

• tasmāt: therefore

• avimuktam: (that which is) never forsaken/never abandoned (by Shiva)

• iti: thus

• smṛtam: remembered/known in tradition

• naimiṣe: in Naimiṣa (Naimiṣāraṇya)

• ca: and

• kurukṣetre: in Kurukṣetra

• gaṅgādvāre: at Gaṅgā-dvāra (Haridwar

• ca: and

• puṣkare: in Puṣkara (sacred tīrtha).

Speaker

Shiva (within Suta’s narration to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Naimisharanya
• Kurukshetra
• Ganga
• Gangadvara
• Pushkara
• Avimukta

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-worship in kṣetra-consciousness: the Linga is not merely an icon but the abiding presence of Pati (Shiva) in sanctified spaces like Avimukta and renowned tīrthas, where worship is believed to yield swift purification and grace.

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

Shiva-tattva is expressed as unwavering immanence—Avimukta, “never abandoned.” As Pati, Shiva is the ever-present Lord who remains accessible to the pashu (bound soul) within specific kṣetras that intensify the removal of pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights tīrtha-yātrā and kṣetra-sevā (pilgrimage and sacred observance) as supportive disciplines—often paired with Linga-pūjā, japa, snāna, and vrata—helping the pashu turn toward Pashupata-aligned devotion and inner purification.