Shloka 34

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य

The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

पंचक्रोशं चतुर्दिक्षु क्षेत्रमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम् । समंताच्च तथा जंतोर्मृतिकालेऽमृतप्रदम्

Transliteration

paṃcakrośaṃ caturdikṣu kṣetrametatprakīrtitam | samaṃtācca tathā jaṃtormṛtikāle'mṛtapradam

Translation

Kawasan suci ini dinyatakan meliputi lima krośa ke empat penjuru. Dan di sekelilingnya, bagi setiap makhluk hidup, pada saat kematian ia menganugerahkan keabadian—yakni pembebasan.

Word by Word

• पञ्चक्रोशम्: (of) five krośas (in extent)
• पञ्चक्रोशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + क्रोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (पञ्च क्रोशाः यस्य/परिमाणम्); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक

• चतुर्दिक्षु: in the four directions
• चतुर्दिक्षु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (चतस्रः दिशः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative/7th); बहुवचन

• क्षेत्रम्: the sacred area/field
• क्षेत्रम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण (क्षेत्रम्-विशेषण)

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed/celebrated
• प्रकीर्तितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; in passive construction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Scope)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गार्थक/दिशावाचक (adverb: 'on all sides')

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• जन्तोः: of a creature/person
• जन्तोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th); एकवचन

• मृतिकाले: at the time of death
• मृतिकाले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृति + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मृतेः कालः); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• अमृतप्रदम्: bestowing immortality/nectar
• अमृतप्रदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अमृतं प्रददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण (एतत्/क्षेत्रम्-विशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The ‘pañcakrośī’ boundary motif is characteristic of Kāśī: the sacred field measured in a defined circuit is proclaimed to grant amṛtatva (mokṣa) at death to beings within its compass, by Śiva’s salvific agency.

Significance: Pilgrimage-circuit (pañcakrośī-yātrā) sanctifies the body-mind; dying within the kṣetra is held to culminate in release through Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that a Shiva-sanctified kṣetra has liberating power: within its sacred boundary, Shiva’s grace can grant amṛtatva—freedom from rebirth—especially for one who departs life there with remembrance and devotion.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā emphasizes Jyotirliṅga-kṣetras where Saguna Shiva is worshiped as the Liṅga; the verse frames the surrounding area itself as charged with Shiva’s presence, making Liṅga-darśana and kṣetra-sevā potent means toward mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage and residence/last remembrance in the kṣetra are implied; practically, one should perform Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintain vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa with devotion while in the holy boundary.