Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

क्वचित् क्वचिद् गन्धकदम्बकैर् मृगैर् विलूनदर्भाङ्कुरपुष्पसंचयम् प्रफुल्लनानाविधचारुपङ्कजैः सरस्तडागैरुपशोभितं क्वचित्

Transliteration

kvacit kvacid gandhakadambakair mṛgair vilūnadarbhāṅkurapuṣpasaṃcayam praphullanānāvidhacārupaṅkajaiḥ sarastaḍāgairupaśobhitaṃ kvacit

Translation

कुठे कुठे कस्तुरी-मृगांचे कळप फिरत होते; कुठे उपटलेल्या दर्भ-अंकुरांचे व गोळा केलेल्या फुलांचे ढीग होते. आणि कुठे अनेक प्रकारच्या सुंदर, पूर्ण फुललेल्या कमळांनी भरलेल्या सरोवर-तलावांनी तो प्रदेश शोभून दिसत होता—अशा विविध प्रकारे ते पवित्र क्षेत्र अलंकृत होते।

Word by Word

• kvacit kvacid: here and there

• gandhaka-dambakaiḥ: with musk (fragrance) in abundance / by musk-bearing (deer)

• mṛgaiḥ: by deer

• vilūna: plucked, gathered

• darbha-aṅkura: young shoots of darbha grass (ritual kuśa)

• puṣpa-saṃcayam: collection/heaps of flowers

• praphulla: fully blossomed

• nānā-vidha: of many varieties

• cāru: charming, beautiful

• paṅkajaiḥ: by lotuses

• saras: lakes

• taḍāgaiḥ: ponds/tanks

• upaśobhitaṃ: made splendid, adorned

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 highlights the ritual ecosystem of Linga-pūjā—darbha grass and flowers gathered for worship, and a tirtha-like environment that supports purity (śauca) and devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By portraying a sanctified landscape naturally oriented to worship, it implies Shiva-tattva as Pati—the presence that consecrates space, drawing pashus (souls) toward upliftment through sacred order and beauty.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Preparation for pūjā through collecting darbha and flowers (upacāra-sādhana), and the yogic emphasis on a pure, sattvic setting conducive to Pāśupata-oriented contemplation.