Shloka 21

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

Gokarṇa–Vindhya Episode

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा देववचनं प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः । तथैव कृतवान्प्रीत्या लोकानां सुखहेतवे

Transliteration

tacchutvā devavacanaṃ prasannaḥ parameśvaraḥ | tathaiva kṛtavānprītyā lokānāṃ sukhahetave

Translation

Hearing the words of the gods, Parameśvara (Lord Śiva) became gracious and pleased; and, out of loving goodwill, He did exactly as requested, for the sake of the happiness and welfare of all worlds.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; implied object of hearing

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), अर्थे: having heard

• देववचनम्: the gods' words
• देववचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानां वचनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परमेश्वर-विशेषण

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमः ईश्वरः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कृतवान्: did / acted
• कृतवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृतवत्/कृतवान् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्यय (past active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; finite sense with implied 'अस्ति'

• प्रीत्या: with affection / gladly
• प्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds / of people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचन

• सुखहेतवे: for the cause of happiness
• सुखहेतवे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुखस्य हेतुः), पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (dative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who becomes prasanna (gracious) when approached rightly, and whose compassionate action is aimed at loka-hita—universal welfare—showing divine anugraha (grace) as central to spiritual uplift.

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

The verse presents Parameśvara as approachable and responsive—key to Saguna worship—where prayers and praise offered through Liṅga-upāsanā are met with Śiva’s prasāda, resulting in protection and well-being for devotees and the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sincere prayer with bhakti—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and Liṅga-pūjā—performed for loka-kalyāṇa (welfare of all), which aligns the devotee with Śiva’s gracious intent.