Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

फुल्लोत्पलांबुजवितानसहस्रयुक्तं तोयाशयैः समनुशोभितदेवमार्गम् मार्गान्तराकलितपुष्पविचित्रपङ्क्तिसम्बद्धगुल्मविटपैर् विविधैरुपेतम्

Transliteration

phullotpalāṃbujavitānasahasrayuktaṃ toyāśayaiḥ samanuśobhitadevamārgam mārgāntarākalitapuṣpavicitrapaṅktisambaddhagulmaviṭapair vividhairupetam

Translation

那神圣的道路以无数盛开的莲花与水莲作华盖而庄严，四周又被明净的池沼与水库映照得分外秀丽。支路之间排列着花行，纹样多姿；又遍布各类灌木与蔓藤—此乃吉祥的入道之途，堪为礼敬主宰帕提、湿婆大自在者之所。

Word by Word

• फुल्ल (phulla): fully blossomed

• उत्पल (utpala): water-lily

• अम्बुज (ambuja): lotus

• वितान (vitāna): canopy/awning

• सहस्र (sahasra): thousand, countless

• युक्तम् (yuktam): endowed with, furnished with

• तोयाशयैः (toyāśayaiḥ): with water-reservoirs/ponds

• समनुशोभित (samanuśobhita): beautifully adorned on all sides

• देवमार्गम् (devamārgam): the divine path/road

• मार्गान्तर (mārgāntara): side-paths, branching ways

• आकलित (ākalita): arranged, set with

• पुष्प (puṣpa): flowers

• विचित्र (vicitra): variegated, wondrous

• पङ्क्ति (paṅkti): row/line

• सम्बद्ध (sambaddha): connected, interlinked

• गुल्म (gulma): shrubs/bushes

• विटप (viṭapa): branches, creepers, spreading growth

• विविधैः (vividhaiḥ): of many kinds

• उपेतम् (upetam): accompanied by, filled with

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents the deva-mārga (approach to the sacred presence) as ritually pure and auspicious—water, flowers, and ordered beauty prepare the pashu (worshipper) to approach Pati (Śiva) with steadiness and devotion before Linga-pūjā.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the supreme Pati whose nearness sanctifies space itself; the ordered, luminous landscape symbolizes the movement from pasha (bondage and disorder) toward Śiva’s auspiciousness (śivam) and clarity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights pūjā-śuddhi and upacāra-bhāva: preparing the approach with water and flowers mirrors inner preparation in Pāśupata discipline—calming the mind, cultivating purity, and entering worship with focused reverence.