Shloka 58
प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्
Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om
एतद्रहस्यम्परमं लब्ध्वा सूतान्मुनीश्वराः । काश्यामेव समासीना मुक्ताश्शिवपदं ययुः
etadrahasyamparamaṃ labdhvā sūtānmunīśvarāḥ | kāśyāmeva samāsīnā muktāśśivapadaṃ yayuḥ
سوت سے یہ اعلیٰ ترین راز پا کر مُنیوں کے سردار کاشی ہی میں مقیم رہے؛ بندھن سے آزاد ہو کر وہ شِوپد—یعنی اُس کے پرم دھام—کو پہنچ گئے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī as Avimukta-kṣetra: Śiva never abandons it; liberation is especially accessible there through Śiva’s grace and the saving upadeśa associated with Kāśī (often framed as the ‘tāraka’ bestowal at death). This verse links rahasya-upadeśa with residing in Kāśī and attaining śiva-pada.
Significance: Residence/darśana in Kāśī and devotion to Viśvanātha are held to conduce to mokṣa; here, the decisive factor is receiving the supreme secret and becoming mukta.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It declares that receiving the highest Shaiva secret (rahasya) and abiding in the sanctity of Kāśī culminates in moksha—attainment of Śiva-pada, the liberated state identified with closeness to Pati (Śiva) beyond bondage (pāśa).
Kāśī is traditionally upheld as a supreme kṣetra of Śiva where Saguna worship—especially Liṅga-upāsanā—ripens devotion and knowledge; through Śiva’s grace, that practice leads to realization of Śiva-pada (the fruit of worship).
The verse points to śravaṇa of Shaiva rahasya (listening to Śiva-tattva), steady residence/abidance in Śiva’s kṣetra (Kāśī), and sustained upāsanā—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Liṅga-pūjā—as the practical pathway toward liberation.