Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 21

Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)

Devanagari script

अविमुक्तं स्वयं लिंगं स्थापितं परमात्मना । न कदाचित्त्वया त्याज्यमिदं क्षेत्रं ममांशक

Transliteration

avimuktaṃ svayaṃ liṃgaṃ sthāpitaṃ paramātmanā | na kadācittvayā tyājyamidaṃ kṣetraṃ mamāṃśaka

Translation

Tại Avimukta, chính Đấng Tối Thượng (Paramātman) đã tự tay an lập Liṅga này. Vì thế, hỡi phần của Ta, con chớ bao giờ rời bỏ thánh địa (kṣetra) này.

Word by Word

• अविमुक्तम्: not forsaken; Avimukta
• अविमुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + वि + मुच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of लिङ्गम्): ‘not abandoned’

• स्वयम्: by oneself; personally
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• स्थापितम्: established
• स्थापितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातु (स्थापयति) का भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘has been established’

• परमात्मना: by the Supreme Self
• परमात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-हेतुः (agent/instrument in passive)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कदाचित्: ever; at any time
• कदाचित्: Desha-Kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ (agent)

• त्याज्यम्: to be abandoned (should be left)
• त्याज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) ‘gerundive/obligatory’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निषेधेन ‘not to be abandoned’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य/कर्म (refers to क्षेत्रम्)

• क्षेत्रम्: sacred field/region
• क्षेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of implied ‘abandon’)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• अंशक: O part (of me); O portion
• अंशक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In Avimukta (Kāśī), the Liṅga is declared ‘svayaṃ-sthāpita’ by the Paramātman—hence the kṣetra is ‘unforsaken’ by Śiva. The command ‘never abandon this field’ establishes Avimukta as Śiva’s perpetual seat of grace and liberation.

Significance: Darśana and worship of the svayaṃ-liṅga in Avimukta is held to grant swift purification and mokṣa; staying within the kṣetra is praised as remaining within Śiva’s protective anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: localization of the transcendent Paramātman as svayaṃ-liṅga—grace made immanent in a kṣetra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Avimukta
• Linga
• Paramatman

FAQs

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

It declares Avimukta (Kāśī) as a uniquely liberated kṣetra where Śiva’s presence is direct and unwavering, because the Liṅga there is established by the Paramātman Himself—making the place a powerful support for mukti through Śiva-sambandha (bond with Śiva).

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna worship through the Liṅga as Śiva’s chosen, established form in the world; approaching the Liṅga in Avimukta is presented as approaching Śiva’s living presence, not merely a symbol.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steadfast kṣetra-niṣṭhā (devotional commitment to the sacred space) expressed through regular Liṅga-pūjā—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple offerings with bhakti.