Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

वाराणसीकुरुक्षेत्रश्रीपर्वतमहालये तुङ्गेश्वरे च केदारे तत्स्थाने यो यतिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

vārāṇasīkurukṣetraśrīparvatamahālaye tuṅgeśvare ca kedāre tatsthāne yo yatirbhavet

Translation

വാരണാസി, കുരുക്ഷേത്രം, ശ്രീപർവതം, മഹാലയം, തുങ്ഗേശ്വരം, കേദാരം എന്നീ പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിൽ യതിയായി വസിക്കുന്നവൻ, അതത് ശിവപീഠഫലം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• वाराणसी (vārāṇasī): Varanasi/Kashi

• कुरुक्षेत्र (kurukṣetra): Kurukshetra

• श्रीपर्वत (śrīparvata): Śrīparvata (a sacred mountain/kshetra)

• महालय (mahālaya): Mahālaya (great sacred abode/kshetra)

• तुङ्गेश्वर (tuṅgeśvara): Tuṅgeśvara (a Śiva-kshetra)

• केदार (kedāra): Kedarnath/Kedāra (Śiva’s sacred seat)

• च (ca): and

• तत्स्थाने (tat-sthāne): in that very place/at those places

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• यतिः (yatiḥ): a renunciate/ascetic

• भवेत् (bhavet): becomes/should be

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 elevates specific Shaiva kshetras as powerful supports for Linga-bhakti and vairagya: dwelling there as a yati aligns the pashu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva) and weakens pasha (bondage).

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

Shiva is implied as the indwelling Lord of these kshetras—accessible through sacred presence and disciplined renunciation—granting purification and the higher fruit of proximity to the Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Yati-dharma (renunciate discipline) combined with kshetra-nivasa (residing in a Shiva-tirtha), a supportive condition for Pashupata-oriented sadhana such as japa, dhyana, and Linga-upasana.