Shloka 2

ओंकार-परमेश-लिङ्गकथा — The Narrative of the Oṃkāra Parameśa Liṅga

Gokarṇa–Vindhya Episode

Devanagari script

ज्योतिर्लिंगं चतुर्थं च कृपया वद वित्तम । ओंकारं परमेशस्य सर्वपातकहारिणः

Transliteration

jyotirliṃgaṃ caturthaṃ ca kṛpayā vada vittama | oṃkāraṃ parameśasya sarvapātakahāriṇaḥ

Translation

O best among the wise, please tell with compassion of the fourth Jyotirlinga—Oṃkāra, belonging to the Supreme Lord (Parameśvara), the remover of all sins.

Word by Word

• ज्योतिः-लिङ्गम्: the Jyotirliṅga
• ज्योतिः-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्देश: ‘ज्योतिषां लिङ्गम्’)

• चतुर्थम्: the fourth
• चतुर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (jyotirliṅgam इत्यस्य)

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

• कृपया: with compassion
• कृपया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-अर्थे (instrumental: ‘out of compassion’)

• वद: tell/speak
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वित्तम: O wise one / O learned one
• वित्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन-प्रयोग (vocative)

• ओंकारम्: Oṃkāra
• ओंकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• परमेशस्य: of the Supreme Lord
• परमेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• सर्व-पातक-हारिणः: of (him) who removes all sins
• सर्व-पातक-हारिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पातक + हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; विशेषण (परमेशस्य); तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव: ‘सर्वाणि पातकानि हरति’)

Speaker

The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara

Sthala Purana: The sages request the account of the ‘fourth jyotirliṅga’—Oṃkāra—of Parameśvara, explicitly praised as sarva-pātaka-hārin (remover of all sins).

Significance: Darśana and worship of Oṃkāra/Oṃkāreśvara is traditionally said to destroy sins and confer merit; in Siddhānta terms, it supports purification (mala-kṣaya) and ripening for grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃkāraṃ parameśasya sarvapātakahāriṇaḥ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse frames Omkāra (the fourth Jyotirlinga) as Parameśvara Śiva’s sin-destroying manifestation, emphasizing compassionate instruction and the purifying power of Jyotirlinga devotion as a means toward liberation.

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

By asking about a specific Jyotirlinga, the sages point to Saguna worship—Śiva approached through a concrete, grace-bearing form (liṅga) that reveals the Supreme (Parameśvara) and grants purification through devotion and pilgrimage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests contemplative worship of Omkāra—japa of “Om” and Śiva-mantras (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside Jyotirlinga darśana and liṅga-pūjā, undertaken with repentance and devotion for pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sins).