Shloka 14
अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara
सर्वे वर्णा आश्रमाश्च बालयौवनवार्द्धकाः । अस्यां पुर्यां मृताश्चेत्त्स्युर्मुक्ता एव न संशयः
sarve varṇā āśramāśca bālayauvanavārddhakāḥ | asyāṃ puryāṃ mṛtāścettsyurmuktā eva na saṃśayaḥ
Semua golongan dan semua āśrama—masa kanak-kanak, muda, atau tua—jika mati di kota suci ini, nescaya mereka dibebaskan (mukti); tiada keraguan.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudra Samhita’s Jyotirlinga-city glory to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Viśvanātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī/Avimukta is extolled as the city where Śiva’s liberating grace is universally accessible; death within the city is said to result in liberation irrespective of varṇa/āśrama/age distinctions.
Significance: Kāśī-maraṇa (death in Kāśī) is praised as granting mokṣa; the verse universalizes eligibility across social and life-stage categories.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It declares the kṣetra-māhātmya: Shiva’s grace makes a sacred city a liberation-field, where even ordinary distinctions of varṇa and āśrama do not obstruct moksha when one departs life there with the merit and sanctity of the kshetra.
Such cities are revered because Shiva is present there as Saguna—often as a Jyotirlinga—making darśana, worship, and remembrance especially potent; the verse frames liberation as arising from Shiva’s compassionate presence anchored in the kshetra.
Pilgrimage and steady Shiva-smaraṇa are implied: perform Linga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and maintain purity through vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and devotion—so that one’s final remembrance is oriented to Shiva.