Shloka 47
The Greatness of Avimukta (Kāśī/Vārāṇasī) and the Doctrine of Liberation-in-One-Life
यत्र साक्षान्महादेवो देहांते स्वयमीश्वरः । व्याचष्टे तारकं ब्रह्म तत्रैव ह्यविमुक्तये
yatra sākṣānmahādevo dehāṃte svayamīśvaraḥ | vyācaṣṭe tārakaṃ brahma tatraiva hyavimuktaye
എവിടെ ദേഹാന്തസമയത്ത് സ്വയം ഈശ്വരനായ മഹാദേവൻ സാക്ഷാത് സന്നിഹിതനായി ‘താരക’ ബ്രഹ്മത്തെ ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നുവോ, ആ സ്ഥലമാണ് അവിമുക്തം എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നത്।
Narrative voice (Padma Purāṇa passage describing Avimukta/Kāśī’s salvific doctrine; Śiva is the acting divine agent mentioned)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: city
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sākṣānmahādevaḥ = sākṣāt + mahādevaḥ; dehāṃte = deha-ante; svayamīśvaraḥ = svayam + īśvaraḥ; tatraiva = tatra + eva; hyavimuktaye = hi + avimuktaye.
FAQs
Avimukta is the sacred locale—traditionally identified with Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)—described as the place where Śiva does not ‘abandon’ devotees and where liberation is especially assured.
It refers to the saving (tāraka) spiritual knowledge/mantra associated with Brahman—traditionally understood as the liberating instruction Śiva imparts to the dying, enabling passage beyond saṃsāra.
It highlights the importance of seeking a liberating orientation at life’s end—through devotion and remembrance—framing death not as defeat but as a moment where divine grace and right knowledge can culminate in mokṣa.