Shloka 15

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

वेदविप्रसुतध्यातो हुङ्कारेणैव स द्रुतम् । भस्मसात्कृतवांस्तं च रत्नमाल निवासिनम्

Transliteration

vedaviprasutadhyāto huṅkāreṇaiva sa drutam | bhasmasātkṛtavāṃstaṃ ca ratnamāla nivāsinam

Translation

Meditated upon by the Veda-born brāhmaṇa, he swiftly uttered a single “Huṅkāra”; and in an instant he reduced to ashes that resident of Ratnamālā.

Word by Word

• वेदविप्रसुतध्यातः: meditated upon by the Brahmin’s son(s)
• वेदविप्रसुतध्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदविप्रसुतध्यात (प्रातिपदिक) = वेद + विप्र + सुत + ध्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (वेदविप्रसुतैः/वेदविप्रसुतस्य ध्यातः = meditated upon by the son(s) of Vedic Brahmins / meditated upon by a Brahmin’s son)

• हुङ्कारेण: by a huṅkāra (roar/utterance ‘huṃ’)
• हुङ्कारेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय-प्रयोगः) / द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भस्मसात्कृतवान्: reduced to ashes
• भस्मसात्कृतवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भस्मसात्कृ (धातु-संयोगः) = भस्मसात् (अव्यय) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावपूर्वपद (भस्मसात्-कृत)

• तम्: him/that one
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• रत्नमाल: Ratnamālā (place/name)
• रत्नमाल: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्नमाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (स्थान/नगरनाम)

• निवासिनम्: dwelling (there), resident
• निवासिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (inhabitant/dweller)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: The oppressed brāhmaṇas invoke Śiva through intense dhyāna; Śiva’s fierce power answers instantly, signaled by a single huṅkāra that incinerates the adharmic aggressor associated with Ratnamālā.

Significance: Establishes Mahākāla as āśu-toṣa (swiftly pleased) and as immediate protector when dharma and devotees are threatened.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: हुṅ (huṅkāra)

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Rudra’s mantra-śakti: when invoked through focused dhyāna, Shiva’s fierce yet compassionate power instantly burns away adharmic forces—symbolized by being reduced to bhasma (ash), the sign of impermanence and purification.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Shiva’s responsive grace: when a devotee/sage contemplates and invokes him, Shiva manifests protective power. In Linga-worship, the same principle applies—dhyāna and mantra awaken the presence of Pati (the Lord) who removes pāśa (bondage/obstruction).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady dhyāna on Shiva with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) is implied; the “bhasma” motif also supports adopting Tripuṇḍra/bhasma as a reminder of purification and the burning of ego and negativity.