Shloka 19

शिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

तथा वटेश्वरः ख्यातः सर्वकामफलप्रदः । सिन्धुतीरे कपालेशो वक्त्रेशः सर्वपापहा

Transliteration

tathā vaṭeśvaraḥ khyātaḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ | sindhutīre kapāleśo vaktreśaḥ sarvapāpahā

Translation

Likewise, (that sacred Liṅga) is renowned as Vaṭeśvara, the bestower of the fruits of all desired aims. On the bank of the Sindhu (Indus) is Kapāleśa; and Vaktreśa is the remover of all sins.

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• वटेश्वरः: Vaṭeśvara (Lord of the banyan)
• वटेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वटस्य ईश्वरः)

• ख्यातः: is famed
• ख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is famed’

• सर्वकामफलप्रदः: giver of the fruits of all desires
• सर्वकामफलप्रदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-काम-फल-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां कामानां फलानि प्रददाति) विशेषणम्

• सिन्धुतीरे: on the bank of the Sindhu
• सिन्धुतीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु-तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सिन्धोः तीरम्)

• कपालेशः: Kapāleśa
• कपालेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपालस्य ईशः)

• वक्त्रेशः: Vaktreśa
• वक्त्रेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वक्त्रस्य ईशः)

• सर्वपापहा: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपापहा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-पाप-हन् (धातु) → ह (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वं पापं हन्ति) विशेषणम्; ‘हा’ = हन्-धातोः agent-noun form

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse continues the tīrtha-liṅga catalogue: Vaṭeśvara (linked to a sacred banyan), Kapāleśa (on Sindhu/Indus bank), and Vaktreśa (sin-destroying). These are presented as localized seats where Śiva grants iṣṭa-phala and pāpa-kṣaya.

Significance: Vaṭeśvara: sarva-kāma-phala (fulfillment of legitimate aims). Kapāleśa/Vaktreśa: pāpa-haraṇa (removal of sins) and inner purification—classically interpreted in Siddhānta as preparation for jñāna and Śiva-anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vateshvara
• Kapalesha
• Vaktresha
• Sindhu

FAQs

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

The verse praises specific Śiva-liṅga manifestations as tīrthas where devotion bears both worldly fulfillment (sarva-kāma-phala) and purification (sarva-pāpa-hara), reflecting Śiva as Pati who grants grace and removes bondage.

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

It presents Śiva in a saguna, approachable form as named Liṅgas tied to places; worship (darśana, pūjā, japa) at such forms is taught as a direct means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace) and cleansing of impurities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with water/abhisheka, repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate repentance and devotion—seeking pāpa-kṣaya (sin-removal) and śuddhi (inner purity).