Shloka 14

Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)

Devanagari script

ततश्च पतितः कर्णान्मणिश्च पुरतः प्रभो । तद्बभूव महत्तीर्थं नामतो मणिकर्णिका

Transliteration

tataśca patitaḥ karṇānmaṇiśca purataḥ prabho | tadbabhūva mahattīrthaṃ nāmato maṇikarṇikā

Translation

Then, O Lord, the jewel fell from (Śiva’s) ear in front of all. From that event there arose a great sacred ford (tīrtha), renowned by the name Maṇikarṇikā.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (thereafter)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पतितः: fallen
• पतितः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) → पतित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (मणिः) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कर्णात्: from the ear
• कर्णात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• मणिः: a jewel
• मणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place: in front)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• तत्: that (place/thing)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (पूर्वोक्त-वस्तु)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नामतः: by name
• नामतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: by name)

• मणिकर्णिका: Maṇikarṇikā (name of the tīrtha)
• मणिकर्णिका: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मणेः कर्णिका)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Maṇikarṇikā is etiologized: a jewel (maṇi) falling from Śiva’s ear (karṇa) becomes the causal sign for the tīrtha’s name and sanctity, anchoring Kāśī’s cremation-ghāṭ and liberation theology in a mythic event.

Significance: Bathing/rites at Maṇikarṇikā are celebrated as exceptionally purifying; the tīrtha is tied to mokṣa-aspiration in Kāśī and to Śiva’s special grace over the kṣetra.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maṇikarṇikā

FAQs

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

It explains the nāma-janma (name-origin) of Maṇikarṇikā: a sacred tīrtha is sanctified through Śiva’s līlā, showing that places connected to Śiva become powerful supports for purification and liberation-oriented devotion.

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

Kotirudra narratives link Śiva’s tangible līlās with pilgrimage practice; honoring Maṇikarṇikā alongside Kashi’s Śaiva worship supports Saguna-bhakti that culminates in grace (anugraha) and steadiness in Śiva-dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tīrtha-smaraṇa and japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a pure intent while visiting or mentally venerating Maṇikarṇikā, offering water and prayers to Śiva with devotion.