Shloka 17

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

महाकालाह्वयं लिंगं दृष्ट्वाभ्यर्च्य प्रयत्नतः । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति लभते परतो गतिम्

Transliteration

mahākālāhvayaṃ liṃgaṃ dṛṣṭvābhyarcya prayatnataḥ | sarvānkāmānavāpnoti labhate parato gatim

Translation

Wer den als Mahākāla gerühmten Liṅga erblickt und ihn mit aufrichtigem Eifer verehrt, erlangt alle rechten Wünsche und erreicht danach den höchsten Gang: Befreiung in Śivas Gnade.

Word by Word

• महाकालाह्वयम्: called ‘Mahākāla’
• महाकालाह्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाकाल + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjectival)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort; diligently
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषण (ablatival adverb)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, present)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (3rd person singular, present, middle)

• परतः: afterwards; hereafter
• परतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• गतिम्: state/goal (liberating path)
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Because Mahākāla remained in Ujjayinī as Jyotirliṅga after destroying the oppressor, the text proclaims the phalaśruti: darśana and arcana of Mahākāla-liṅga grant desired aims and the higher gati (mokṣa).

Significance: Classic Jyotirliṅga phala: fulfillment of dharmic desires (abhīṣṭa) and ultimate liberation through Śiva’s grace; validates pilgrimage and worship as soteriologically effective.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahakala

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva’s grace is accessed through darśana (beholding) and devoted pūjā of the Mahākāla Liṅga, yielding both dhārmic fulfillments and the highest end—mokṣa—when worship is done with sincere effort.

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

It presents the Liṅga as Saguna Śiva’s accessible form: by reverently worshipping the Mahākāla Liṅga, the devotee approaches the transcendent (Nirguna) goal through a concrete, grace-bestowing symbol of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-darśana and diligent abhyarcana (formal worship) with steady bhakti—commonly supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water/bilva, and maintaining purity and focus.