Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

ततश्च पतितः कर्णान्मणिश्च पुरतः प्रभो । तद्बभूव महत्तीर्थं नामतो मणिकर्णिका

Transliteration

tataśca patitaḥ karṇānmaṇiśca purataḥ prabho | tadbabhūva mahattīrthaṃ nāmato maṇikarṇikā

Translation

ثم، يا ربّ، سقطت الجوهرةُ من الأذن (أذن شيفا) أمام الجميع. ومن تلك الحادثة نشأ مَعبرٌ مقدّسٌ عظيم (تيرثا)، اشتهر باسم «مانيكرنيكا» (Maṇikarṇikā).

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (thereafter)

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

• पतितः: fallen
• पतितः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) → पतित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (मणिः) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कर्णात्: from the ear
• कर्णात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• मणिः: a jewel
• मणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place: in front)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• तत्: that (place/thing)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (पूर्वोक्त-वस्तु)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नामतः: by name
• नामतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: by name)

• मणिकर्णिका: Maṇikarṇikā (name of the tīrtha)
• मणिकर्णिका: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मणेः कर्णिका)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maṇikarṇikā

FAQs

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

It explains the nāma-janma (name-origin) of Maṇikarṇikā: a sacred tīrtha is sanctified through Śiva’s līlā, showing that places connected to Śiva become powerful supports for purification and liberation-oriented devotion.

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

Kotirudra narratives link Śiva’s tangible līlās with pilgrimage practice; honoring Maṇikarṇikā alongside Kashi’s Śaiva worship supports Saguna-bhakti that culminates in grace (anugraha) and steadiness in Śiva-dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tīrtha-smaraṇa and japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a pure intent while visiting or mentally venerating Maṇikarṇikā, offering water and prayers to Śiva with devotion.