Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 26

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य

The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेव्यते काशिका पुरी । अव्यक्तलिंगं मुनिभिर्ध्यायते च सदाशिवः

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaprayatnena sevyate kāśikā purī | avyaktaliṃgaṃ munibhirdhyāyate ca sadāśivaḥ

Translation

因此，应以一切至诚之力礼敬奉事圣城迦尸（Kāśī）；因为在那里，诸牟尼观修常住自在天（Sadāśiva）为无相之灵伽（Liṅga），超越形色。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मादर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वः प्रयत्नः)

• सेव्यते: is to be served / is served
• सेव्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• काशिका: of Kāśī / Kāśikā
• काशिका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काशिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पुरी)

• पुरी: the city
• पुरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अव्यक्त-लिङ्गम्: the unmanifest liṅga
• अव्यक्त-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अव्यक्तं लिङ्गम्)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ध्यायते: is meditated upon
• ध्यायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सदा-शिवः: Sadāśiva
• सदा-शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सदा शिवः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In Kāśī, sages contemplate Śiva as the avyakta-liṅga—Śiva’s transcendent sign beyond form—identifying the kṣetra as a direct locus of liberating presence (mokṣa-kṣetra).

Significance: Service (sevā) to Kāśī and meditation on the formless liṅga are presented as direct means toward liberation through Sadāśiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadashiva
• Kashi

FAQs

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

It declares Kāśī as a supreme Shaiva kṣetra to be served with full dedication, because it supports direct contemplation of Sadāśiva as the formless (avyakta) reality—pointing to liberation through devotion and inner meditation.

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

It links Liṅga worship to its deepest meaning: the Liṅga is not merely an outer emblem (saguṇa support) but also a gateway to the unmanifest Sadāśiva (nirguṇa/avyakta) contemplated by sages.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes sevā (pilgrimage-service and worship in Kāśī) together with dhyāna—steady meditation on Sadāśiva in the form of the Avyakta-Liṅga; practitioners may pair it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during worship.