Shloka 172

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि

Devanagari script

विशोध्य सर्वद्रव्यैस्तु वारिभिर् अभिषिञ्चति संमार्ज्य शतयज्ञानां स्नानेन प्रयुतं तथा

Transliteration

viśodhya sarvadravyaistu vāribhir abhiṣiñcati saṃmārjya śatayajñānāṃ snānena prayutaṃ tathā

Translation

以一切净化之物先净治圣林伽与供奉之处，继而以净水作阿毗湿迦洒灌而浴。既已如法拂拭清洁，此等沐浴被宣说其功德等同百次祭祀；若以虔敬奉事帕提——解脱众生(paśu)离系缚(pāśa)之主——则由圣浴而功德倍增无量。

Word by Word

• विशोध्य: having purified/cleansed

• सर्वद्रव्यैः: with all (ritually sanctifying) substances/materials

• तु: indeed

• वारिभिः: with waters

• अभिषिञ्चति: he anoints/bathes (by sprinkling), performs abhiṣeka

• संमार्ज्य: having wiped/cleansed thoroughly

• शतयज्ञानाम्: of a hundred sacrifices (hundred yajñas)

• स्नानेन: by bathing/ablution (snāna, abhiṣeka)

• प्रयुतम्: ten-thousandfold / a myriad (greatly multiplied)

• तथा: thus/so, in that manner

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It elevates abhiṣeka (ritual bathing of the Linga) as a supreme purificatory act, stating that careful cleansing and water-consecration can confer merit comparable to (and even multiplied beyond) major Vedic sacrifices, emphasizing bhakti-centered Shaiva ritual efficacy.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—whose grace transforms ritual purity into spiritual merit that loosens pāśa (bondage) upon the paśu (individual soul), aligning outer abhiṣeka with inner purification.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights Linga-abhiṣeka and saṃmārjana (ritual cleansing) as key steps of Shiva-puja; in Pāśupata framing, such disciplined worship supports inner śuddhi (purification) that prepares the practitioner for liberation-oriented practice.