Shloka 50
Ghuśmeśa-jyotirliṅga-māhātmya
The Greatness of the Ghuśmeśa Jyotirlinga
सुदेहा तावदस्यास्तु स्पर्द्धामुग्रां चकार सा । प्रथमं शीतलं तस्या हृदयं ह्यसिवत्पुनः
sudehā tāvadasyāstu sparddhāmugrāṃ cakāra sā | prathamaṃ śītalaṃ tasyā hṛdayaṃ hyasivatpunaḥ
ثم إنَّ سُدِهَا، وقد امتلأت بمنافسةٍ عاتية، فعلتْ على ذلك النحو. كان قلبُها أولاً بارداً هادئاً؛ ثم عاد فصار صلباً قاطعاً، كأنّه سيفٌ ماضٍ.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Significance: Serves as a moral-psychological warning: jealousy (spardhā) is a pāśa (bondage) that hardens the heart and obstructs receptivity to grace; pilgrimage and worship are meant to soften and purify this inner knot.
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights how envy and rivalry can overturn an originally calm heart, making it sharp and harmful. In Shaiva thought, such inner agitation is a pasha (bond) that veils Shiva-bhava; purification comes by turning the mind back toward devotion and restraint.
Linga-worship is repeatedly presented in the Shiva Purana as a means to cool and purify the heart through darshana, japa, and surrender to Saguna Shiva. This verse shows the opposite movement—when egoic rivalry rises, the heart becomes ‘asivat’ (sword-like), obstructing the grace-filled receptivity needed for Linga-bhakti.
A practical takeaway is to counter rivalry with cooling disciplines: Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), mindful restraint of speech, and simple Shiva-upachara (water/offerings) with a prayer for purification of the heart; if aligned with tradition, Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha are supports for steadiness and non-hostility.