Shloka 48

Prabhāsa-kṣetra: Circuit of Tīrthas and Shrines Leading to Bhukti and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

छायालिंगं समभ्यर्च्य मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः । गुल्फं दृष्ट्वा नरोऽभ्यर्च्य चांद्रायणफलं लभेत् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

chāyāliṃgaṃ samabhyarcya mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ | gulphaṃ dṛṣṭvā naro'bhyarcya cāṃdrāyaṇaphalaṃ labhet || 48 ||

Translation

By duly worshipping the Shadow-Liṅga, one is freed from all sins. And a man who, after beholding the sacred spot called Gulpha, offers worship, obtains merit equal to performing the Cāndrāyaṇa vow.

Word by Word

• chāyāliṅgam: Chāyāliṅga (the shadow-liṅga)
• chāyāliṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāyā + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘liṅga named Chāyā/Shadow-liṅga’

• samabhyarcya: having worshipped
• samabhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-abhi-arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having worshipped’

• mucyate: is freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd person, Singular

• sarva-pātakaiḥ: from all sins
• sarva-pātakaiḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; karmadhāraya ‘all sins’; instrumental of separation in passive sense

• gulpham: Gulpha (a sacred spot)
• gulpham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gulpha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; proper name (tīrtha/spot)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having worshipped’

• cāṃdrāyaṇa-phalam: the fruit of the Cāndrāyaṇa vow
• cāṃdrāyaṇa-phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāṃdrāyaṇa + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘fruit/result of the Cāndrāyaṇa (vow)’

• labhet: would obtain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a tirtha-mahatmya narrative, traditionally framed to Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa (as phala-equivalence)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Chayalinga
• Gulpha
• Chandrayanavrata

FAQs

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

It teaches that specific tirtha-linked worship—here of the Chāyā-Liṅga and at Gulpha—functions as a powerful purifier, granting freedom from sins and conferring merit comparable to major expiatory vows.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is expressed through reverent darśana (beholding the sacred) and arcana (worship). The verse emphasizes that sincere ritual devotion at a sanctified site yields transformative spiritual results.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual praxis (kalpa-style application of worship and vow-fruits): knowing that Cāndrāyaṇa is a recognized prayāścitta benchmark, and that prescribed arcana at a tirtha is said to generate equivalent merit.