Shloka 3

महाकालज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्ये चन्द्रसेन-चिन्तामणि-प्रसङ्गः

Mahākāla Jyotirliṅga Māhātmya: The Episode of King Candrasena and the Cintāmaṇi

Devanagari script

उज्जयिन्यामभूद्राजा चन्द्रसेनाह्वयो महान् । सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञश्शिवभक्तो जितेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

ujjayinyāmabhūdrājā candrasenāhvayo mahān | sarvaśāstrārthatattvajñaśśivabhakto jitendriyaḥ

Translation

In Ujjayinī there lived a great king named Candrasena—one who knew the true purport of all the śāstras, was a devoted worshipper of Lord Śiva, and had mastered his senses.

Word by Word

• उज्जयिन्याम्: in Ujjayinī
• उज्जयिन्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उज्जयिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• अभूत्: was/became
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/लुङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• चन्द्रसेनाह्वयः: named Candrasena
• चन्द्रसेनाह्वयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्रसेन (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नाम-आह्वयः = ‘called by the name’); विशेषण (qualifier of राजा)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महान्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of राजा)

• सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञः: knower of the true purport of all scriptures
• सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष समास; ‘सर्व-शास्त्र-अर्थ-तत्त्व’ इत्यस्य ‘ज्ञः’ (knower) — विशेषण (of राजा)

• शिवभक्तः: devotee of Śiva
• शिवभक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (कृदन्त; √भज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य भक्तः) — विशेषण

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered his senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त; √जि धातु, क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य इन्द्रियाणि जितानि सः) — विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Ujjayinī is introduced as the sacred seat where the Śiva-bhakta king Candrasena rules; this narrative frame leads into the Mahākāla episode in which devotion and Śiva’s protection become central themes.

Significance: Darśana of Mahākāla is held to remove fear of death/time (kāla), grant protection, and steady bhakti through Śiva’s anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Candrasena
• Ujjayini

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal ruler-devotee: one grounded in śāstric truth (tattva) and inner discipline (jitendriya), showing that devotion to Śiva is strengthened by knowledge and self-mastery.

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

By identifying Candrasena as a śiva-bhakta in the Kotirudra context (Jyotirlinga-centered narratives), the verse frames Linga/Saguna Śiva worship as supported by right understanding of śāstra and ethical restraint.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is sense-control alongside steady Śiva-bhakti—typically expressed through daily Linga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and disciplined conduct.