Shloka 13

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य

The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

अत्र तीर्थे विशेषोस्त्यविमुक्ताख्ये परोत्तमे । श्रूयतां तत्त्वया देवि परशक्ते सुचित्तया

Transliteration

atra tīrthe viśeṣostyavimuktākhye parottame | śrūyatāṃ tattvayā devi paraśakte sucittayā

Translation

ఈ తీర్థంలో విశేష మహిమ ఉంది—పరమోత్తమమైన ‘అవిముక్త’ క్షేత్రంలో. ఓ దేవీ, ఓ పరాశక్తీ, స్వచ్ఛమైన ఏకాగ్ర చిత్తంతో దీని తత్త్వాన్ని వినుము.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• तीर्थे: in the sacred place
• तीर्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• विशेषः: a special distinction
• विशेषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अविमुक्ताख्ये: in (the place) called Avimukta
• अविमुक्ताख्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविमुक्त + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नाम-निर्देशक), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• परोत्तमे: in the supremely excellent (place)
• परोत्तमे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परः + उत्तमः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard
• श्रूयताम्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; आज्ञार्थ (let it be heard)

• तत्त्वया: with true understanding / in truth
• तत्त्वया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/करणार्थ (instrumental)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• परशक्ते: O Supreme Power
• परशक्ते: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (पर-शक्ति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुचित्तया: with a good/pure mind
• सुचित्तया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुचित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु + चित्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (addressing/qualifying the listener)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Viśvanātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Avimukta (Kāśī) is proclaimed as Śiva’s never-abandoned kṣetra; its special excellence is that Śiva’s grace operates uniquely there, making it a foremost place for liberation-teaching and final release.

Significance: Hearing/receiving the ‘tattva’ of Avimukta and dying in Kāśī is traditionally held to confer liberation through Śiva’s special grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Shakti

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Avimukta as a uniquely exalted tirtha and frames its glory as “tattva” (spiritual truth) to be heard with a purified, concentrated mind—implying that liberation is supported by sacred place, right understanding, and receptive devotion to Shiva.

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

Kotirudra Saṃhitā commonly teaches pilgrimage and worship centered on Shiva’s manifest presence (Saguna) in holy kshetras; calling Avimukta “parottama” signals a place where Shiva’s grace is especially accessible through Linga/kshetra-based devotion and listening to Shaiva teachings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The instruction is primarily śravaṇa (reverent listening) with sucitta (collected mind); in Shaiva practice this pairs naturally with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), tirtha-smaraṇa, and focused contemplation on Shiva as Pati who grants release.