Shloka 26

अलकापतेः तपः-लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा च वरप्राप्तिः / The Lord of Alakā: Austerity, Liṅga-Establishment, and the Receiving of a Boon

Devanagari script

मया सख्यं च ते नित्यं वत्स्यामि च तवांतिके । अलकां निकषा मित्र तव प्रीतिविवृद्धये

Transliteration

mayā sakhyaṃ ca te nityaṃ vatsyāmi ca tavāṃtike | alakāṃ nikaṣā mitra tava prītivivṛddhaye

Translation

“I shall maintain eternal friendship with you, and I shall dwell near you. O friend, I shall remain close to Alakā, for the increase of your joy and affection.”

Word by Word

• मया: by me / I
• मया: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सख्यम्: friendship
• सख्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; here as object of ‘वत्स्यामि’ (intended)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ते: for you / to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Gen/Dative), एकवचन; here dative sense ‘for you/with you’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative)

• वत्स्यामि: I shall dwell/stay
• वत्स्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अन्तिके: near (in the vicinity)
• अन्तिके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अलकाम्: Alakā (city)
• अलकाम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; destination with motion implied

• निकषा: near/beside
• निकषा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Proximity)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निकषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-निपात/अव्यय, ‘near/beside’ (postposition-like)

• मित्र: O friend
• मित्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (often used as voc.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रीति-विवृद्धये: for the increase of affection
• प्रीति-विवृद्धये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + विवृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रीतेः विवृद्धिः’ (increase of affection)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue within the Rudrasaṃhitā)

Characters & Entities

• Alakā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti expressed as steadfast friendship and nearness—devotion matures when one remains constantly aligned with the beloved, increasing prīti (loving joy) rather than merely seeking power or status.

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

Saguna worship in the Shiva Purana often emphasizes relational devotion—serving, remembering, and staying “near” the Lord through presence at holy places and steady practice; this verse mirrors that ideal of intimate, continuous association.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nitya-smaraṇa (daily remembrance) supported by regular japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple daily Shiva-upāsanā such as applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and offering water to the Liṅga to cultivate prīti.