Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः

Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura

Devanagari script

ततः स्कन्दो महेशस्य मुदा स्थापितवान्मुने । त्रीणि लिंगानि तत्रैव पापघ्नानि विधानतः

Transliteration

tataḥ skando maheśasya mudā sthāpitavānmune | trīṇi liṃgāni tatraiva pāpaghnāni vidhānataḥ

Translation

Daraufhin, o Weiser, errichtete Skanda voller Freude dort selbst drei Liṅgas des Maheśa, gemäß den vorgeschriebenen Riten—Liṅgas, die Sünden vernichten.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तस्मात्/ततः-प्रयोगः; adverb (thereupon/then)

• स्कन्दः: Skanda
• स्कन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mud (मुद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular); adverbial-instrumental (with joy)

• स्थापितवान्: established/installed
• स्थापितवान्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था धातु) + ktavatu (क्तवतु-कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta) क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; perfective past participle used predicatively (having established)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (त्रि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Plural); numeral adjective qualifying liṅgāni

• लिङ्गानि: liṅgas (emblems)
• लिङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), adverb (there)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), particle (emphasis)

• पापघ्नानि: sin-destroying
• पापघ्नानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa-ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha): पापस्य घ्नानि (destroyers of sin); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying liṅgāni

• विधानतः: according to prescription
• विधानतः: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त adverb (according to rule/ordinance)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Etiological seed: after victory, Skanda establishes three Mahādeva-liṅgas at the spot as pāpa-ghna kṣetra-devatās, giving the place enduring sanctity.

Significance: Darśana/abhisheka of these liṅgas is said to destroy pāpa and remove obstacles; emphasizes kṣetra as a grace-channel (anugraha) after the removal of adharma.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Skanda (Kartikeya)
• Shiva (Mahesha)

FAQs

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

It highlights that devotion expressed through proper स्थापना (pratiṣṭhā) of Śiva’s liṅga—done with joy and according to śāstric विधि—becomes a purifier that destroys pāpa and supports the soul’s movement toward Shiva’s grace.

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

The liṅga is Saguna Shiva’s accessible form for worship; by installing and honoring it through prescribed rites, devotees approach Mahesha through a concrete sacred symbol that channels devotion into disciplined practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests vidhi-based liṅga worship—cleanliness, proper offerings, mantra-japa (commonly the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and reverent installation/maintenance—performed with inner joy (mudā) as a key devotional attitude.