Shloka 66
Tīrtha-yātrā-varṇana
Description of Pilgrimage to the Sacred Fords
क्षेत्रं वाराणसीनाम मुक्तिदं प्राणिनां भुवि । अविमुक्तेश्वरं तत्र जीवन्मुक्तं प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ ६६ ॥
kṣetraṃ vārāṇasīnāma muktidaṃ prāṇināṃ bhuvi | avimukteśvaraṃ tatra jīvanmuktaṃ prakīrtitam || 66 ||
บนแผ่นดินนี้ กษेत्रศักดิ์สิทธิ์นามว่า วาราณสี ประทานโมกษะแก่สรรพชีวิต ณ ที่นั้น อวิมุกเตศวรได้รับการสรรเสริญว่าเป็น “ชีวันมุกตะ” ผู้หลุดพ้นแม้อยู่ในกาย
Suta
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Begins with the grandeur of Kāśī as a liberating kṣetra and culminates in reverent awe toward Avimukteśvara as jīvanmukta, settling into quiet assurance of mokṣa."}
FAQs
It declares Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) as a uniquely liberating tirtha on earth and highlights Avimukteśvara as the emblem of jīvanmukti—freedom attainable even before the body falls.
By praising Avimukteśvara and the sanctity of Kāśī, it points to devotion and surrender at a sacred seat of the Lord as a direct support for liberation.
It emphasizes tirtha-mahātmya and kṣetra-dharma (pilgrimage theology and sacred geography), guiding practical religious conduct such as visiting holy sites and worship of the presiding deity.