Shloka 9

Devanagari script

मोक्षार्थी कोटिगुणितं भूकामश्च सहस्रकम् । दयार्थी च त्रिसाहस्रं तीर्थार्थी द्विसहस्रकम्

Transliteration

mokṣārthī koṭiguṇitaṃ bhūkāmaśca sahasrakam | dayārthī ca trisāhasraṃ tīrthārthī dvisahasrakam

Translation

One who seeks liberation (mokṣa) gains merit multiplied a koṭi-fold; one who desires worldly enjoyments gains a thousand-fold; one who seeks compassion and benevolence gains three thousand-fold; and one who seeks the fruit of pilgrimage gains two thousand-fold merit.

Word by Word

• मोक्षार्थी: one desiring liberation
• मोक्षार्थी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष-अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक; मोक्ष + अर्थिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मोक्षस्य अर्थी)

• कोटिगुणितम्: multiplied by a crore
• कोटिगुणितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; implied amount)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि-गुणित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; गुण् (धातु) + क्त; कोटि + गुणित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘multiplied’; कोट्या गुणितम्

• भूकामः: one desiring land
• भूकामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू-काम (प्रातिपदिक; भू + काम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूः/भूमेः कामः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सहस्रकम्: a thousand
• सहस्रकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; implied offering/count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्या-प्रयोगः (1000)

• दयार्थी: one seeking compassion
• दयार्थी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया-अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक; दया + अर्थिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दयायाः अर्थी)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रिसाहस्रम्: three thousand
• त्रिसाहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; implied offering/count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + साहस्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि साहस्राणि = 3000)

• तीर्थार्थी: one desiring pilgrimage/holy place
• तीर्थार्थी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ-अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक; तीर्थ + अर्थिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थस्य अर्थी)

• द्विसहस्रकम्: two thousand
• द्विसहस्रकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; implied offering/count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि-सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक; द्वि + सहस्रक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वे सहस्रके = 2000)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single shrine; it grades outcomes: mokṣa-intent yields koṭi-guṇita merit, while other intents (bhoga, dayā, tīrtha-phala) yield specified multipliers—elevating mokṣa as the supreme aim.

Significance: Reframes pilgrimage fruit as attainable through liṅga-worship; ultimately subordinates all fruits to mokṣa, implying Śiva’s grace transcends ritual arithmetic.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse ranks intentions behind religious practice and teaches that the highest fruit arises when worship is aimed at moksha—union with Shiva as Pati—rather than merely worldly gain or even pilgrimage.

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

In Shaiva practice, devotion to Saguna Shiva through the Linga becomes supremely potent when performed with the liberative intention (moksha). The verse highlights that inner aim transforms the spiritual ‘multiplier’ of Shiva-worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies worship undertaken with right intention—such as Linga-puja with Panchakshara japa (Om Namah Shivaya), accompanied by purity and devotion—seeking moksha rather than only material results.