Shloka 44

मित्रसह-राज्ञो रक्षत्व-शापकथा — The Curse that Turns King Mitrasaha into a Rakshasa

Vasiṣṭha’s Śāpa Narrative

Devanagari script

पश्चिमाम्बुधितीरस्थं गोकर्णं तीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्रास्ति शिवलिंगं तन्महापातकनाशकम्

Transliteration

paścimāmbudhitīrasthaṃ gokarṇaṃ tīrthamuttamam | tatrāsti śivaliṃgaṃ tanmahāpātakanāśakam

Translation

On the western shore of the ocean lies Gokarṇa, an excellent sacred ford. There is a Śiva-liṅga there, and it destroys even the greatest sins.

Word by Word

• पश्चिमाम्बुधितीरस्थम्: situated on the western ocean-shore
• पश्चिमाम्बुधितीरस्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम + अम्बुधि + तीर + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with तीर्थम्/गोकर्णम्)

• गोकर्णम्: Gokarṇa
• गोकर्णम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (nom./acc. sg; apposition with तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: holy place, pilgrimage site
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (nom./acc. sg)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with तीर्थम्)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिवलिङ्गम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with लिङ्गम्)

• महापातकनाशकम्: destroyer of great sins
• महापातकनाशकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + पातक + नाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with लिङ्गम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Gokarṇa on the western seashore is praised as an uttama-tīrtha where a Śiva-liṅga destroys even mahāpātakas; this aligns with the broader Gokarṇa-kṣetra tradition (Mahābaleśvara/Ātma-liṅga narratives in regional sthala-purāṇas).

Significance: Mahāpātaka-nāśana: darśana, snāna, and liṅga-pūjā at Gokarṇa are framed as exceptionally purificatory, opening the path from pāśa (bondage of mala/pāpa) toward Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Gokarna
• Shiva Linga

FAQs

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

The verse proclaims Gokarṇa as a supreme tīrtha where Śiva’s presence as the Liṅga grants purification—signifying that sincere devotion to Pati (Shiva) cuts the bonds of pāśa (impurity and sin), leading the soul toward liberation.

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

It presents the Liṅga as Saguna Shiva’s accessible form in a holy place: by approaching, honoring, and surrendering to the Liṅga, the devotee receives grace that neutralizes even grave karmic burdens (mahāpātakas).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage and Liṅga-pūjā are implied—perform abhiṣeka with water, offer bilva leaves, apply bhasma (tripuṇḍra), and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with focused bhakti for inner purification.