Shloka 51

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

इह भुक्त्वाखिलान्भोगान्देवतादुर्ल्लभानपि । अतः प्राप्य परं ज्ञानं कैवल्यं मोक्षमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

iha bhuktvākhilānbhogāndevatādurllabhānapi | ataḥ prāpya paraṃ jñānaṃ kaivalyaṃ mokṣamāpnuyāt

Translation

Having enjoyed here all pleasures—even those difficult to obtain for the gods—one should thereafter attain the supreme knowledge and, through it, reach kaivalya: liberation (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: देशाधिकरण (अधिकरण/Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed
• भुक्त्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having eaten/enjoyed)

• अखिलान्: all, entire
• अखिलान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• भोगान्: enjoyments, pleasures
• भोगान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• देवतादुर्लभान्: rare even for the gods
• देवतादुर्लभान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवतायाः दुर्लभाः = rare even for the gods); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle), समुच्चय/अपि = even/also

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: हेतु (Hetu/Cause marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (हेतु/परिणामवाचक adverb) = therefore/from that

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया = having attained

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कैवल्यम्: absolute aloneness (kaivalya)
• कैवल्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैवल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: may attain
• आप्नुयात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Rāmeśvara

Sthala Purana: The kṣetra’s fruit is framed as a two-step ascent: fulfillment of legitimate enjoyments (bhoga) followed by para-jñāna culminating in kaivalya—reflecting the purāṇic pedagogy of gradual refinement toward liberation.

Significance: Positions Rāmeśvara worship as capable of granting even ‘devatā-durlabha’ enjoyments, yet ultimately directing the devotee to liberating knowledge and mokṣa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even the highest worldly attainments are ultimately secondary; true fulfillment comes from para-jñāna that culminates in kaivalya—release from bondage and union with the liberating grace of Shiva.

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

In Shatarudrasaṃhitā, devotion to Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship) matures the seeker: first purifying desires and experiences, then opening the heart to para-jñāna that leads beyond all limited enjoyments to mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is a shift from bhoga to jñāna through Shaiva sādhanā—regular Linga-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditation aimed at inner purification and detachment.