Shloka 14

महाबलमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Mahābala Māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Mahābala (and Western Sacred Liṅgas)”

Devanagari script

घोरेण तपसा लब्धं रावणाख्येन रक्षसा । तल्लिंगं स्थापयामास गोकर्ण गणनायकः

Transliteration

ghoreṇa tapasā labdhaṃ rāvaṇākhyena rakṣasā | talliṃgaṃ sthāpayāmāsa gokarṇa gaṇanāyakaḥ

Translation

That very Liṅga—obtained by the rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa through fierce austerities—was established by Gokarṇa, the leader of Śiva’s gaṇas, so that its worship might become firmly rooted.

Word by Word

• घोरेण: by/with severe (austerity)
• घोरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (instrumental singular, neuter)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम् (instrumental singular, neuter)

• लब्धम्: obtained
• लब्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तम् (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘लिङ्गम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रावणाख्येन: by the one named Rāvaṇa
• रावणाख्येन: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रावण + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रावणस्य आख्यः = named Rāvaṇa); पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘रक्षसा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रक्षसा: by the demon
• रक्षसा: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (कर्ता-करणभावे), एकवचनम् (instrumental singular, masculine)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘लिङ्गम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (that)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (accusative singular, neuter)

• स्थापयामास: established/installed
• स्थापयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परस्मैपदम्, periphrastic perfect); प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिजन्त-धातु (स्थापयति)

• गोकर्णः: Gokarṇa
• गोकर्णः: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (nominative singular, masculine)

• गणनायकः: leader of the gaṇas
• गणनायकः: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां नायकः = leader of the gaṇas); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘गोकर्णः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ravana
• Gokarna

FAQs

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

It shows that even power gained through intense tapas becomes spiritually fruitful when redirected into dharmic devotion—here, through the proper establishment of the Liṅga for sustained worship of Pati (Śiva), guiding beings toward grace rather than ego-driven attainment.

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

The verse emphasizes Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā (installation): Saguna worship of Śiva through the Liṅga provides a stable, accessible form for devotion, pilgrimage, and daily pūjā, enabling seekers to approach the transcendent Nirguna Śiva through a sacred, consecrated symbol.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is reverent Liṅga worship after proper establishment—regular abhiṣeka, offering of bilva leaves, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), transforming tapas into steady bhakti.