Shloka 65

ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनम्

Brāhmaṇī-Svargati-Varṇana: Account of a Brāhmaṇa Woman’s Ascent to Heaven

Devanagari script

तत्र भुक्त्वा सुखं भूरि चिरकालं महोत्तमम् । शंकरस्य प्रसादेन गता सा ह्युत्तमां गतिम्

Transliteration

tatra bhuktvā sukhaṃ bhūri cirakālaṃ mahottamam | śaṃkarasya prasādena gatā sā hyuttamāṃ gatim

Translation

There she enjoyed abundant, supremely excellent happiness for a long time; and by Śaṅkara’s grace, she indeed attained the highest state—liberation.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (locative adverb)

• bhuktvā: having enjoyed
• bhuktvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), √bhuj (भुज्) = having enjoyed/partaken

• sukham: happiness, pleasure
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana

• bhūri: much, abundant
• bhūri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-like indeclinable adjective used with sukham; sense: 'much/abundant' (बहु अर्थे)

• cira-kālam: for a long time
• cira-kālam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'ciraḥ kālaḥ' (a long time) used adverbially (kālādhyartha)

• mahā-uttamam: very excellent
• mahā-uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: 'mahac ca uttamam ca' / 'very excellent'; viśeṣaṇa of sukham

• śaṃkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṃkarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/6th), Ekavacana

• prasādena: by (his) grace
• prasādena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (तृतीया/3rd), Ekavacana; instrumental of means

• gatā: went, attained
• gatā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past Active Participle (क्त), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; √gam (गम्) = gone/attained

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), emphasis/causal particle

• uttamām: supreme
• uttamām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of gatim

• gatim: state, destination
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd), Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse concludes a phala (result) narrative: enjoyment of a higher realm followed by mokṣa through Śaṅkara’s prasāda.

Significance: Emphasizes Śiva’s prasāda as the decisive cause of ‘uttamā gati’ (liberation), aligning tīrtha/vrata narratives with the Siddhāntic doctrine that grace perfects merit.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that the supreme destiny (uttamā gati/moksha) is finally secured by Śiva’s prasāda (grace), even after long enjoyment of auspicious results—highlighting grace as the decisive liberating power in Shaiva thought.

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

In the Kotirudra context of Jyotirliṅga glory, the verse points to Saguna Śiva (Śaṅkara) as the compassionate Lord who grants both worldly/spiritual joy and ultimately the highest liberation through His favor, which is the fruit of Liṅga-centered devotion and pilgrimage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sustained Śiva-bhakti aimed at receiving prasāda—classically expressed through Liṅga-pūjā with pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with simple disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supportive Shaiva observances.