Shloka 3

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य

The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

कदाचित्पार्वती देवी शङ्करं परया मुदा । लोककामनयापृच्छन्माहात्म्यमविमुक्तयोः

Transliteration

kadācitpārvatī devī śaṅkaraṃ parayā mudā | lokakāmanayāpṛcchanmāhātmyamavimuktayoḥ

Translation

ایک بار دیوی پاروتی نہایت مسرت سے بھر کر، عالم کے بھلے کی خواہش سے، شنکر سے اویمُکت (اَوِمُکت) دھام کے ماہاتمیہ کے بارے میں پوچھنے لگیں۔

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once
• कदाचित्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• पार्वती: Pārvatī
• पार्वती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); अप्पोजिशन (in apposition to पार्वती)

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परया: with supreme
• परया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying मुदा)

• मुदा: joy
• मुदा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• लोक-कामनया: with the desire for the welfare of the world
• लोक-कामनया: Hetu (हेतु/Cause; motive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + कामना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य कामना)

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• अपृच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• माहात्म्यम्: the glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अविमुक्तयोः: of the two Avimuktas / of Avimukta (dual form as in text)
• अविमुक्तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages; reporting Parvati’s inquiry to Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The frame shifts to the archetypal inquiry: Pārvatī asks Śaṅkara about Avimukta’s greatness for loka-hita, establishing the divine authorization for Kāśī’s salvific status under Viśveśvara.

Significance: Avimukta is presented as a compassion-driven teaching topic: knowledge of the kṣetra’s power is meant to guide beings toward liberation and right aspiration.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Shankara
• Avimukta

FAQs

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

It frames Avimukta as a uniquely grace-filled Shaiva sacred space and shows Parvati’s compassionate role in bringing Shiva’s teaching to seekers for worldly welfare and liberation.

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

By approaching Shiva as Śaṅkara (Saguna Lord who bestows boons and moksha), the verse introduces a tirtha-mahātmya context where devotion, pilgrimage, and Shiva’s presence (often through Linga worship) become direct means to receive his saving grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to seek Shiva’s kshetra with devotion—supporting practices like japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā, and tirtha-sevā as preparatory disciplines for receiving Shiva’s liberating instruction.