Shloka 21

Devanagari script

ज्योतिर्लिंगमिदं श्रेष्ठं दर्शनात्पूजनादपि । सर्वपापहरं दिव्यं भुक्तिवर्द्धनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

jyotirliṃgamidaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ darśanātpūjanādapi | sarvapāpaharaṃ divyaṃ bhuktivarddhanamuttamam

Translation

This Jyotirliṅga is supreme. Even by merely beholding it—and also by worshipping it—it becomes the divine remover of all sins, and the highest bestower that increases worldly enjoyment and auspicious prosperity.

Word by Word

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

• दर्शनात्: from seeing
• दर्शनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अपादान (from/by means of seeing)

• पूजनात्: from worship
• पूजनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अपादान (from worship)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), समुच्चय/अपि (also/even)

• सर्वपापहरम्: removing all sins
• सर्वपापहरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sarvāṇi pāpāni harati); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

• भुक्तिवर्द्धनम्: increasing enjoyment/prosperity
• भुक्तिवर्द्धनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति + वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudrasaṃhitā discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanatha

Sthala Purana: The verse explicitly classifies the shrine as a Jyotirliṅga and asserts its efficacy through darśana and pūjana: it removes all sins and increases bhukti—standard Jyotirliṅga-māhātmya rhetoric that frames the site as a concentrated locus of Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Merely seeing (darśana) and worshipping (pūjā) are said to destroy pāpa; in Siddhānta idiom, pāpa-kṣaya supports the loosening of pāśa (bondage) and prepares the paśu for anugraha leading to mukti.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Jyotirlinga

FAQs

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

It proclaims the Jyotirlinga as a supreme, grace-filled manifestation of Shiva whose darshan and puja purify karmic impurity (papa) and generate both auspicious merit and spiritual upliftment.

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

The Jyotirlinga is Saguna Shiva made accessible for devotees: through visible form (liṅga), the devotee receives Shiva’s anugraha (grace) via darshan and ritual worship, leading to purification and well-being.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Jyotirlinga darshan with reverence and follow with liṅga-pūjā/abhisheka; support it with japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and a simple offering of water, bilva leaves, and devotion.