Shloka 60

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः

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

Devanagari script

परिक्रम्य च तत्तीर्थं प्रशंसन्तश्च ते ययुः । चंद्रश्चापि स्वकीयं च कार्य्यं चक्रे पुरातनम्

Transliteration

parikramya ca tattīrthaṃ praśaṃsantaśca te yayuḥ | caṃdraścāpi svakīyaṃ ca kāryyaṃ cakre purātanam

Translation

Having circumambulated that sacred tīrtha and singing its praises, they departed. And the Moon-god too carried out his own ancient, destined task once again.

Word by Word

• परिक्रम्य: having circumambulated
• परिक्रम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणम्/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: परि+क्रम्; ‘having circumambulated’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्-तीर्थम्: that sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• तत्-तीर्थम्: कर्म (Karma/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष समास (निर्देश/संबन्ध): ‘that’ + ‘tīrtha’

• प्रशंसन्तः: praising
• प्रशंसन्तः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—participle agreeing with ‘ते’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (pronoun)

• ययुः: went
• ययुः: क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• चन्द्रः: the Moon (Candra)
• चन्द्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• स्वकीयम्: his own
• स्वकीयम्: विशेषण (adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वकीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘कार्य्यम्’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कार्य्यम्: task; duty; work
• कार्य्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चक्रे: did; performed
• चक्रे: क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुरातनम्: ancient; old
• पुरातनम्: विशेषण (adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘कार्य्यम्’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, as typical of the Purana frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon-god)

FAQs

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

It highlights tīrtha-pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) and stuti (praise) as acts of bhakti that align the devotee with Shiva’s grace; after honoring the sacred place, one returns to one’s dharma, purified and reoriented toward liberation.

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

In the Kotirudra context of Jyotirlinga tīrthas, circumambulating the holy site mirrors the standard worship of the Shiva-Linga through pradakṣiṇā and praise—devotion to Saguna Shiva at a manifested sacred locus that points to the Nirguna reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pradakṣiṇā of the Jyotirlinga/tīrtha with reverent stuti; mentally repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while walking, then conclude by returning to one’s duties as an offering to Shiva.