Shloka 26

शिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

कर्दमेशः परः प्रोक्त कोटीशश्चार्बुदाचले । अचलेशश्च विख्यातो लोकानां सुखदः सदा

Transliteration

kardameśaḥ paraḥ prokta koṭīśaścārbudācale | acaleśaśca vikhyāto lokānāṃ sukhadaḥ sadā

Translation

يُعلَن كَرْدَمِيشَ (Kardameśa) أنه الإله الأسمى؛ وكُوطِيشَ (Koṭīśa) متجلٍّ على جبل أَرْبُدَا. وأَچَلِيشَ (Acaleśa) مشهورٌ أيضًا—يهبُ العوالمَ دائمًا السلامَ والهناءَ والسعادة.

Word by Word

• कर्दमेशः: Kardameśa (Lord of Kardama)
• कर्दमेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्दम-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कर्दमस्य ईशः)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रोक्तः: is called/said
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is said/called’

• कोटीशः: Koṭīśa (Lord of crores)
• कोटीशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कोटीनाम् ईशः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अर्बुदाचले: on Mount Arbuda
• अर्बुदाचले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्बुद-अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अर्बुदः अचलः)

• अचलेशः: Acaleśa (Lord of the mountain)
• अचलेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अचलस्य ईशः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विख्यातः: is renowned
• विख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is renowned’

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/of people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सुखदः: giver of happiness
• सुखदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख-द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सुखं ददाति) विशेषणम्

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ishana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse lists multiple kṣetra-liṅgas: Kardameśa (declared ‘para’, supreme), Koṭīśa situated on Arbuda mountain, and Acaleśa—each praised as a constant source of worldly and spiritual welfare.

Significance: Pilgrimage to these liṅgas is framed as securing steadiness (acala), prosperity and welfare (sukha), and strengthening dharma through sustained divine presence.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kardamesha
• Kotisha
• Acalesha
• Arbudachala

FAQs

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

It proclaims specific linga-manifestations of Śiva as supremely auspicious, emphasizing that devotion to these sacred forms brings lokakalyāṇa—welfare and happiness—while orienting the devotee toward the Supreme (Para-Śiva) whom the linga signifies.

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

By naming Kardameśa, Koṭīśa, and Acaleśa, the verse highlights Saguna Śiva worship through particular lingas at a holy place (Arbudācala). In Śaiva Siddhānta terms, the linga is a gracious, accessible focus through which Pati (Śiva) bestows anugraha (divine grace) on the bound soul.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is linga-abhisheka with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—offered with bhakti at a Śiva-kṣetra; maintaining purity with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and steady remembrance of Śiva as Sukhadāyaka (giver of auspicious well-being).