Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

गोकर्णे शिवलिंगं तु मोक्षद्वार उदाहृतः । महाबलाभिधानोऽसौ पूजितः संस्तुतो द्विजाः

Transliteration

gokarṇe śivaliṃgaṃ tu mokṣadvāra udāhṛtaḥ | mahābalābhidhāno'sau pūjitaḥ saṃstuto dvijāḥ

Translation

At Gokarṇa, that Śiva-liṅga is proclaimed to be the very “gateway to liberation” (mokṣa). Known by the name Mahābala, it is worshiped and praised—O twice-born sages.

Word by Word

• गोकर्णे: at Gokarṇa
• गोकर्णे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—गो + कर्ण (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः)

• शिवलिङ्गम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिङ्गम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—शिवस्य लिङ्गम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• मोक्षद्वारः: gate to liberation
• मोक्षद्वारः: कर्ता/विधेय (कर्ता/प्रथमा-विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—मोक्षस्य द्वारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• उदाहृतः: is declared
• उदाहृतः: क्रिया (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘उदाहृतः’ = ‘is declared/said’

• महाबलाभिधानः: having the name ‘Mahābala’
• महाबलाभिधानः: विशेषण (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल + अभिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—महाबल इति अभिधानम् यस्य (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/नामधेय-निर्देश)

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूजितः: worshipped
• पूजितः: क्रिया (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, भूतकर्मणि/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संस्तुतः: praised
• संस्तुतः: क्रिया (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्तु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, भूतकर्मणि/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे अपि प्रयोगः (O brāhmaṇas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: At Gokarṇa the Śivaliṅga named Mahābala is proclaimed ‘mokṣa-dvāra’—a kṣetra-liṅga whose darśana and worship are said to open the way to liberation; the verse functions as a formal māhātmya declaration addressed to the dvijas.

Significance: Darśana/pūjā of Mahābala at Gokarṇa is extolled as directly oriented to mokṣa (not merely worldly boons), making the site a liberation-focused pilgrimage.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahabala (Shiva Linga at Gokarna)

FAQs

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

This verse declares the Gokarna Shiva Linga (Mahābala) as a “mokṣa-dvāra”—a sacred locus where devotion to Pati (Lord Shiva) loosens the pāśa (bondage) of the pashu (bound soul), making liberation the central fruit of worship.

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

By naming and praising a specific Linga (Mahābala), the text highlights Saguna upāsanā—approaching the formless Shiva through the Linga as a consecrated, accessible embodiment of grace—where worship and stuti become direct means to Shiva’s liberating favor.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes pūjā and saṃstuti: perform Linga-abhisheka and offer prayers while repeating Shiva’s mantra (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a moksha-intent, cultivating surrender and steadiness of mind.