Shloka 18

उत्तरदिग्देशस्थ-शिवलीङ्गमाहात्म्य

Māhātmya of Northern-Region Śiva-liṅgas

Devanagari script

नयपालाख्यपुर्य्यां तु प्रसिद्धायां महीतले । लिंगं पशुपतीशाख्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

Transliteration

nayapālākhyapuryyāṃ tu prasiddhāyāṃ mahītale | liṃgaṃ paśupatīśākhyaṃ sarvakāmaphalapradam

Translation

On the earth, in the renowned city called Nayapāla, there is a Liṅga known as Paśupati—the Lord of all beings—which bestows the fruits of every rightful desire.

Word by Word

• नयपालाख्यपुर्याम्: in the city called Nayapāla
• नयपालाख्यपुर्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयपाल + आख्य + पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे नामनिर्देशः: नयपाल-आख्या पुरी)

• तु: indeed, and
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्रसिद्धायाम्: renowned
• प्रसिद्धायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पुरी)

• महीतले: on the earth’s surface
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (मही एव तलम्)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पशुपतीशाख्यम्: called ‘Paśupatīśa’
• पशुपतीशाख्यम्: Karma (कर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पशुपति + ईश + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नामनिर्देशः: पशुपतीश-आख्यम् = ‘called Paśupatīśa’)

• सर्वकामफलप्रदम्: bestowing the fruits of all desires
• सर्वकामफलप्रदम्: Karma (कर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + काम + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सर्वेषां कामानां फलम्; तत् प्रददाति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: In the famed city Nayapāla, a liṅga named Paśupati is praised as sarva-kāma-phala-prada—granting the fruits of all (dharmically aligned) desires, presenting Śiva as the Lord of paśus (bound beings) who can both fulfill and ultimately transcend desire.

Significance: Kāma-phala is framed as a controlled boon under Pati: desires are fulfilled under Śiva’s lordship, ideally maturing the devotee from bhoga toward yoga and release.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises a specific sacred Linga as Paśupati—Shiva as the compassionate Lord of all souls—indicating that sincere devotion at such a shrine supports both worldly well-being and the soul’s higher aim under Shiva’s grace.

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

The Linga is Saguna Shiva’s accessible form for worship; by honoring the Paśupati Linga, devotees approach Shiva as the personal Lord who governs and liberates beings, responding to devotion with appropriate fruits.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Linga-pūjā with water (abhisheka) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating devotion and surrender to Paśupati as the inner ruler of all beings.