Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

महाबलप्रभावात्तु तच्च लिंगं शिवस्य तु । सम्पूज्यैकाथ चाण्डाली शिवलोकं गता द्रुतम्

Transliteration

mahābalaprabhāvāttu tacca liṃgaṃ śivasya tu | sampūjyaikātha cāṇḍālī śivalokaṃ gatā drutam

Translation

By the mighty, transformative power of that very Liṅga of Lord Śiva, the Caṇḍālī, having worshipped it well, swiftly attained Śivaloka.

Word by Word

• महाबल-प्रभावात्: due to (its) great strength and power
• महाबल-प्रभावात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बल + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th); एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (contrastive particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying लिङ्गम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga, emblem
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th); एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्त-अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• सम्पूज्य: having worshipped fully
• सम्पूज्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• एका: one woman
• एका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (sequencing particle)

• चाण्डाली: a Caṇḍāla woman
• चाण्डाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डालिन्/चाण्डाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; जातिवाचक

• शिव-लोकम्: Śiva’s world
• शिव-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; गत्यर्थकर्म (goal of motion)

• गता: went
• गता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (active)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Rīti (रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A paradigmatic liṅga-māhātmya: the liṅga’s ‘mahābala-prabhāva’ grants Śivaloka even to a Caṇḍālī who performs sincere worship—illustrating Śiva’s grace overriding social stigma.

Significance: Promises swift salvific fruit (Śivaloka-prāpti) through liṅga-pūjā with sincerity; underscores anugraha as the decisive factor.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace, accessed through sincere Liṅga-pūjā, transcends social identity and purifies the soul, granting the highest destiny—attainment of Śivaloka.

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

The Liṅga is a saguna support for devotion through which the devotee approaches the nirguna-tattva of Śiva; this verse highlights that complete worship of the Liṅga becomes a direct means to Śiva’s abode.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform simple, wholehearted Liṅga-pūjā—offering water and flowers with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—with single-pointed devotion.