Shloka 1

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । ब्रह्मपुर्यां चित्रकूटं लिंगं मत्तगजेन्द्रकम् । ब्रह्मणा स्थापितं पूर्वं सर्वकामसमृद्धिदम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | brahmapuryāṃ citrakūṭaṃ liṃgaṃ mattagajendrakam | brahmaṇā sthāpitaṃ pūrvaṃ sarvakāmasamṛddhidam

Translation

Sūta said: In the city of Brahmā (Brahmapurī) stands the Citra-kūṭa Liṅga, known as Mattagajendra. In ancient times Brahmā established it, and it bestows the complete fulfillment of all worthy desires.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वक्ता/कर्ता

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मपुर्याम्: in Brahmapurī
• ब्रह्मपुर्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-पुरि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• चित्रकूटम्: Citrakūṭa (name)
• चित्रकूटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रकूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (apposition to लिङ्गम्)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• मत्तगजेन्द्रकम्: (called) Mattagajendraka
• मत्तगजेन्द्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त-गज-इन्द्रक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (agent in passive sense)

• स्थापितम्: established
• स्थापितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थापित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here agrees with लिङ्गम् (object described)

• पूर्वम्: formerly/earlier
• पूर्वम्: Modifier (विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• सर्वकामसमृद्धिदम्: bestowing fulfillment of all desires
• सर्वकामसमृद्धिदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-काम-समृद्धि-द (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्); द-प्रत्ययान्त (giver)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Sūta introduces a specific kṣetra-liṅga: in Brahmapurī, Brahmā installs the Citra-kūṭa Liṅga called Mattagajendra, famed for granting sarva-kāma-samṛddhi (complete prosperity/fulfillment).

Significance: Kṣetra-darśana and liṅga-pūjā here are said to yield ‘sarvakāma-samṛddhi’—worldly fulfillment aligned with dharma, and by implication the softening of pāśa (bondage) through devotion.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

This verse highlights a sacred Śiva-liṅga installed by Brahmā, teaching that devotion to Śiva in consecrated tirthas supports dharmic prosperity and the fulfillment of aspirations, ultimately directing the devotee toward Śiva’s grace.

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

By naming a specific Liṅga and its installation, the text affirms Saguna worship—approaching the transcendent Śiva through a consecrated form (Liṅga) that becomes a reliable focus for bhakti, mantra, and ritual, yielding tangible and spiritual fruits.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), offering water and bilva leaves with steady remembrance of Śiva as Pati (Lord), seeking not mere desire but desire purified into devotion and liberation-oriented intent.