Shloka 2
Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya
The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga
यत्र पार्थिवमाहेशलिंगस्य महिमाधुना । सर्वोत्कृष्टश्च कथितो व्यासतो ब्रूहि तं पुनः
yatra pārthivamāheśaliṃgasya mahimādhunā | sarvotkṛṣṭaśca kathito vyāsato brūhi taṃ punaḥ
In jenem Zusammenhang, in dem die Herrlichkeit des irdischen Māheśa-Liṅga als die erhabenste von allen geschildert wurde—bitte trage sie uns noch einmal vor, vollständig und im Detail.
The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmin)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
The verse highlights that the glory of the Pārthiva (earthen) Liṅga is regarded as supremely excellent, and that sincere devotees should hear and contemplate it repeatedly—because repeated śravaṇa (hearing) deepens bhakti and steadies the mind in Śiva.
By requesting the ‘mahimā’ of the Māheśa Liṅga again and in detail, the sages affirm Liṅga-upāsanā as a concrete (saguṇa) support for approaching the transcendent Lord (Pati), making devotion accessible through a sacred form.
The takeaway is repeated listening and recitation of Liṅga-mahātmya along with Pārthiva Liṅga worship—forming an earthen Liṅga, offering water and bilva, and remembering Śiva with mantra-japa (especially ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’ where taught in context).