Shloka 24
Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya
The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga
मृडेनाप्रमितान्वर्षाञ्छिवलोकेहि तिष्ठति । सकामः पुनरागत्य राजेन्द्रो भारते भवेत्
mṛḍenāpramitānvarṣāñchivalokehi tiṣṭhati | sakāmaḥ punarāgatya rājendro bhārate bhavet
By the grace of Mr̥ḍa (Śiva), one abides in Śiva’s world for immeasurable years; and if desires still remain, returning again one becomes a sovereign king in Bhārata (India).
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: As part of the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s Kāśī-centered frame, merit from Śiva-worship culminates in residence in Śiva-loka; if residual desire (kāma) persists, the jīva returns to embodied life with elevated worldly sovereignty—illustrating graded fruits (bhukti then mukti).
Significance: Bestows both bhukti (worldly attainment) and, when desire is exhausted, mukti; Kāśī/Viśveśvara is classically praised as granting liberation through Śiva’s grace.
FAQs
It distinguishes two outcomes of Śiva-bhakti: by Śiva’s grace one attains Śiva-loka, yet if residual desire (kāma) remains, the soul returns to embodied life—showing that true liberation is freedom from desire, not merely reaching a higher world.
The verse functions as a phala-śruti for Saguna Śiva worship (often via the Liṅga): devotion yields exalted post-mortem states like Śiva-loka, but the quality of the devotee’s intention (desireless vs. desireful) determines whether the result culminates in release or in return to worldly sovereignty.
It implies niṣkāma Śiva-upāsanā—worship with reduced personal desire—such as steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Liṅga-pūjā offered as surrender to Śiva, aiming for purification rather than worldly reward.