Shloka 30
अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara
विषयासक्तचित्तोऽपि त्यक्त धर्मरुचिर्नरः । इह क्षेत्रे मृतो यो वै संसारं न पुनर्विशेत्
viṣayāsaktacitto'pi tyakta dharmarucirnaraḥ | iha kṣetre mṛto yo vai saṃsāraṃ na punarviśet
విషయాసక్త మనస్సుతో, ధర్మరుచిని విడిచిన మనిషి కూడ—ఈ పవిత్ర క్షేత్రంలో నిజంగా మరణిస్తే—మళ్లీ సంసారంలో ప్రవేశించడు.
Suta Goswami (narrating the kshetra-mahātmya to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kṣetra-māhātmya theme: death within the sacred kṣetra is said to cut off punarjanma even for the dharma-indifferent; this echoes the Kāśī doctrine that Śiva grants the liberating upadeśa at the final moment.
Significance: Antyeṣṭi/antyakāla-smaraṇa in the kṣetra is held to yield immediate release from saṃsāra by Śiva’s grace overriding prior demerit.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It proclaims the extraordinary liberating power (anugraha) of Shiva’s sacred kṣetra: even one lacking dharmic inclination can be freed from rebirth if death occurs there, emphasizing Shiva as Pati who can sever bondage beyond ordinary karma.
In Kotirudrasaṃhitā, the kṣetra is sanctified by Shiva’s Jyotirlinga presence (Saguna manifestation). The verse implies that proximity to the Linga-kṣetra and Shiva’s grace can override the devotee’s deficiencies, culminating in liberation rather than return to saṃsāra.
A practical takeaway is kṣetra-yātrā (pilgrimage) with Shiva-smaraṇa: worship of the Jyotirlinga with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with traditional aids like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports for remembrance at life’s end.