Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

तदेव काशिकेत्येतत्प्रोच्यते क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् । परं निर्वाणसंख्यानं सर्वोपरि विराजितम्

Transliteration

tadeva kāśiketyetatprocyate kṣetramuttamam | paraṃ nirvāṇasaṃkhyānaṃ sarvopari virājitam

Translation

അതു തന്നെയാണ് ‘കാശികാ’ (കാശി) എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന ഉത്തമക്ഷേത്രം. അത് പരമ നിർവാണം—മോക്ഷത്തിന്റെ പരമധാമം—എന്ന് പ്രസിദ്ധം; എല്ലാറ്റിനുമീതെ ദീപ്തമായി വിരാജിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

• काशिके: “Kāśikā”
• काशिके: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/सप्तमी (Vocative/Locative), एकवचन; here as name in quotation with इति

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रोच्यते: is called / is said
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) उपसर्ग: प्र-
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive voice)

• क्षेत्रम्: the sacred field/place
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: supreme, excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• परम्: highest
• परम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (as predicate)

• निर्वाणसंख्यानम्: designated as ‘nirvāṇa’
• निर्वाणसंख्यानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वाण + संख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (having the designation ‘nirvāṇa’)

• सर्वोपरी: above all
• सर्वोपरी: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: above all)

• विराजितम्: shining, resplendent
• विराजितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज् (धातु) उपसर्ग: वि- → विराजित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘शोभितम्/प्रकाशितम्’ अर्थे

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is proclaimed the supreme kṣetra where Śiva grants nirvāṇa; the city is ‘light’ (kāśikā) and functions as Avimukta, never forsaken by Śiva—hence liberation is specially accessible here.

Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha and residence/death in Kāśī are extolled as leading to mokṣa through Śiva’s special grace (anugraha) and the salvific ‘tāraka’ upadeśa.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashi

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

This verse elevates Kāśī as the supreme kṣetra where liberation (nirvāṇa/mokṣa) is especially accessible by the grace of Lord Shiva, emphasizing the Shaiva view that Shiva’s presence makes a place spiritually preeminent.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By declaring Kāśī the highest sacred field, the verse supports the Purāṇic idea that worship of Saguna Shiva—especially through Linga-upāsanā in such a kṣetra—quickly matures devotion and leads the soul toward Shiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is pilgrimage and focused Shiva-bhakti in Kāśī—daily japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Linga-abhisheka, and steady remembrance of Shiva as the giver of moksha.