Shloka 54

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः

Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins

Devanagari script

चन्द्रकुण्डं प्रसिद्धं च पृथिव्यां पापनाशनम् । तत्र स्नाति नरो यस्स सर्वैः पापैः प्रमुच्यते

Transliteration

candrakuṇḍaṃ prasiddhaṃ ca pṛthivyāṃ pāpanāśanam | tatra snāti naro yassa sarvaiḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

On earth, the renowned Candrakuṇḍa is a destroyer of sins. Whoever bathes there is freed from all sins.

Word by Word

• चन्द्रकुण्डम्: the Moon-pond (Candra-kuṇḍa)
• चन्द्रकुण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (चन्द्रस्य कुण्डम्)

• प्रसिद्धम्: well-known
• प्रसिद्धम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चन्द्रकुण्डस्य)

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

• पृथिव्याम्: on earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (location)

• पापनाशनम्: destroyer of sins
• पापनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पापानां नाशनम्); विशेषणम् (चन्द्रकुण्डस्य)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्नाति: bathes
• स्नाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्ता

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तद्-प्रत्यय (correlative)

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पापैः)

• पापैः: from sins
• पापैः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; अपादानार्थे (from) प्रयोगः—‘पापैः’ इति तृतीया-प्रयोगः

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Somanātha

Sthala Purana: Candrakuṇḍa at Prabhāsa is praised as pāpa-nāśana; bathing there functions as a preparatory purification for Soma-liṅga darśana.

Significance: Snāna at Candrakuṇḍa removes pāpa and prepares the paśu for Śiva’s grace (anugraha) through tīrtha-sevā.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the tīrtha-māhātmya principle: sacred places connected with Shiva carry purifying power, and sincere bathing there supports inner cleansing and the removal of pāpa that obstructs devotion and liberation.

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

In the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā, tīrthas are typically praised as attendants to Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage; bathing (snāna) prepares the devotee for Saguna Shiva worship—darśana, abhiṣeka, and prayer—by cultivating purity and receptivity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform snāna at Candrakuṇḍa with a prayer to Lord Shiva, then continue with Liṅga-darśana/abhiṣeka while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” dedicating the act to purification and steadfast bhakti.