Shloka 22

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य

The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

महत्क्षेत्रमिदं तस्मादविमुक्तमिति स्मृतम् । सर्वेभ्यो नैमिषादिभ्यः परं मोक्षप्रदं मृते

Transliteration

mahatkṣetramidaṃ tasmādavimuktamiti smṛtam | sarvebhyo naimiṣādibhyaḥ paraṃ mokṣapradaṃ mṛte

Translation

అందువల్ల ఇది మహాక్షేత్రమై ‘అవిముక్త’మని స్మరించబడుతుంది. నైమిషాది సమస్త తీర్థాలకన్నా పరమమైనది; ఇక్కడ మరణించినవానికి అత్యుత్తమ మోక్షం ప్రసాదిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective)

• क्षेत्रम्: sacred field/place
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/demonstrative)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान/from that, therefore)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पञ्चमी, एकवचन (Ablative, Singular)

• अविमुक्तम्: Avimukta (never-abandoned)
• अविमुक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nominative, Singular; adjective)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• स्मृतम्: is called/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate: ‘is called/remembered’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भावे; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Past passive participle; Neuter, Nom, Singular)

• सर्वेभ्यः: than all
• सर्वेभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान/than all)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तुलनार्थे पञ्चमी (Abl/Gen, Pl; used for comparison)

• नैमिषादिभ्यः: than Naimiṣa and others
• नैमिषादिभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान/than)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, बहुवचन; समासः—आदि-तत्पुरुष (Ablative plural; ‘Naimiṣa etc.’)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; superlative sense ‘supreme’)

• मोक्षप्रदम्: granting liberation
• मोक्षप्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मोक्षस्य प्रदः) (Neuter, Nom, Sg; ‘giver of liberation’)

• मृते: upon death
• मृते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; लोके ‘मृते (सति)’ = ‘when one dies’ (Locative singular; PPP used as locative absolute)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Kotirudra Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Pashupatinatha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Visvanatha

Sthala Purana: Avimukta (‘never abandoned’) is declared the supreme kṣetra: surpassing famed tīrthas like Naimiṣa, it grants mokṣa specifically to those who die there—implying Śiva’s special salvific act at the moment of death (antakāla-anugraha).

Significance: Antyeṣṭi/antakāla in Kāśī is said to yield liberation; the kṣetra is framed as the highest ‘mokṣa-prada’ among all pilgrimage sites.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: antakāla (death-moment) as the decisive spiritual event

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse declares Avimukta (Kashi) as the supreme kṣetra where Śiva’s liberating grace is especially accessible; dying there is described as uniquely conducive to mokṣa, surpassing even famed tīrthas like Naimiṣa.

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

Avimukta is revered as a place ‘never abandoned’ by Śiva, emphasizing Saguna Śiva’s compassionate presence in a specific sacred geography; Linga-worship and pilgrimage there are understood as direct approaches to Śiva’s saving grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to seek Śiva-sānnidhya through pilgrimage, Linga-darśana, japa of Śiva’s names (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and dying with remembrance of Śiva in Avimukta for liberation.