Shloka 33

चाण्डालीसद्गतिवर्णनम् (Cāṇḍālī-sadgati-varṇanam) — “Account of the Cāṇḍālī’s Attainment of a Good Destiny”

Devanagari script

अथ सा शंभुकृपया जगाम परमं पदम् । आरुह्य सुविमानं च नीतं शिवगणैर्द्रुतम्

Transliteration

atha sā śaṃbhukṛpayā jagāma paramaṃ padam | āruhya suvimānaṃ ca nītaṃ śivagaṇairdrutam

Translation

Then, by Śambhu’s grace, she attained the supreme abode. Mounting a splendid celestial car (vimāna), she was swiftly escorted by Śiva’s gaṇas.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Pronoun: Feminine Nom Sg)

• śaṃbhu-kṛpayā: by Śambhu’s grace
• śaṃbhu-kṛpayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समास (Śambhu's grace); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental Sg)

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter Acc Sg)

• padam: abode; state; place
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter Acc Sg)

• āruhya: having mounted
• āruhya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā√ruh (धातु) + ktvā (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund: having mounted/ascended)

• su-vimānam: a splendid aerial car
• su-vimānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (excellent vimāna); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter Acc Sg)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• nītam: brought; led
• nītam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nī (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter Acc Sg: 'having been led/brought')

• śiva-gaṇaiḥ: by Śiva’s gaṇas
• śiva-gaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समास (Śiva’s attendants); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental Pl)

• drutam: swiftly; quickly
• drutam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: druta (dru धातु + ta कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त/विशेषणरूपेण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter Acc Sg; adverbial sense: quickly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it illustrates Śambhu’s prasāda granting ‘parama pada’ and the gaṇas as agents of divine conveyance.

Significance: Teaches that Śiva’s grace (anugraha) can override prior limitation and lift the paśu toward Śiva’s abode; gaṇas symbolize the Lord’s compassionate administration.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva Ganas
• Shambhu

FAQs

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

It highlights that liberation (the supreme abode) is ultimately granted through Śiva’s grace—when the soul is released from bondage and led toward the highest state by the Lord’s compassionate power.

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

The verse presents Śambhu as the gracious, personal Lord (Saguna Śiva) who actively bestows the fruit of worship—showing that devotion to Shiva, often centered on the Liṅga, culminates in divine guidance toward the supreme abode.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is grace-oriented bhakti: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Liṅga-pūjā performed with humility, seeking Śiva’s anugraha (saving grace) as the means to liberation.