Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

स्नानात्संसेवनाद्वापि न मोक्षः प्राप्यते यतः इह सम्प्राप्यते येन तत एतद्विशिष्यते

Transliteration

snānātsaṃsevanādvāpi na mokṣaḥ prāpyate yataḥ iha samprāpyate yena tata etadviśiṣyate

Translation

स्नानेन केवलं बाह्यसेवनेन वा मोक्षो न लभ्यते; यत् साधनं येनात्रैव परं तत्त्वं साक्षात्क्रियते, पतिना कृपाप्रदेन—तदेव विशिष्यते।

Word by Word

• स्नानात्: from bathing

• संसेवनात्: from (mere) service/attendance

• वा अपि: or even

• न: not

• मोक्षः: liberation

• प्राप्यते: is attained

• यतः: because/for

• इह: here (in this very life)

• सम्प्राप्यते: is truly attained/realized

• येन: by which/through which

• ततः: therefore

• एतत्: this (means/teaching)

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished as superior/excellent

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya; presenting a doctrinal conclusion about moksha-sadhana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prioritizes inner realization and Shiva’s anugraha over mere external purity acts, implying that Linga-puja must culminate in devotion, knowledge, and surrender to Pati—not ritual alone.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati, the liberating Lord whose grace enables direct attainment “here” (iha); moksha is not a mechanical product of actions but the fruit of contact with Shiva-tattva through right means.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It cautions against relying only on external rites like snana and formal service, pointing instead to the Pashupata-oriented path of inner discipline, devotion, and grace-centered realization.