Shloka 46
अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara
सर्वेषां कर्मणां नाशो नास्ति काशीं पुरीं विना । सर्वं च सुलभं तीर्थं दुर्ल्लभा काशिका पुरी
sarveṣāṃ karmaṇāṃ nāśo nāsti kāśīṃ purīṃ vinā | sarvaṃ ca sulabhaṃ tīrthaṃ durllabhā kāśikā purī
काशीं पुरीं विना सर्वकर्मणां नाशो न लभ्यते। अन्यानि तीर्थानि सुलभानि, काशिका तु पुरी दुर्लभा परमा॥
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
The verse elevates Kāśī as Shiva’s uniquely grace-filled kṣetra where karmic bondage (pāśa) is cut at the root by the Lord’s presence, making it a paradigmatic place for liberation-oriented worship in Shaiva thought.
Kāśī is revered as a living field of Saguna Shiva—worship of Shiva in the form of the Liṅga there is presented as exceptionally potent, because the kṣetra itself is sanctified by Shiva’s abiding lordship (Pati) that accelerates purification and release from karmas.
A practical takeaway is pilgrimage with focused Shiva-bhakti: daily Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and observance of purity disciplines—treating the visit as a sādhanā aimed at karmic purification and moksha.