Shloka 34

ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग-तदुपलिङ्ग-माहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Jyotirliṅga and Associated Liṅgas

Devanagari script

ज्योतिषां चोपलिंगानि श्रूयन्तामृषिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

jyotiṣāṃ copaliṃgāni śrūyantāmṛṣisattamāḥ

Translation

O best of sages, please hear also the distinguishing signs of the sacred Jyotis—the Jyotirliṅgas.

Word by Word

• ज्योतिषाम्: of the luminaries/lights
• ज्योतिषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उपलिङ्गानि: subsidiary marks/signs
• उपलिङ्गानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• श्रूयन्ताम्: let (them) be heard
• श्रूयन्ताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (let them be heard)

• ऋषि-सत्तमाः: O best of sages
• ऋषि-सत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ऋषीणां सत्तमाः’ (best among sages)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It signals a shift from mere listing to discernment—teaching devotees the “marks” by which the Jyotirliṅgas are recognized and revered as Shiva’s self-manifest light, approached through śravaṇa (listening) and bhakti.

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

By introducing the “upaliṅgas” (identifying characteristics), the text frames Jyotirliṅga worship as Saguna devotion to Shiva’s manifest presence, where the Liṅga is the accessible emblem of the transcendent (Nirguna) Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa and smaraṇa: listen attentively to the Jyotirliṅga mahātmya, then contemplate Shiva as jyotis (divine light), supporting practice with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” during pilgrimage or daily Liṅga pūjā.