Shloka 19

शिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

तथा वटेश्वरः ख्यातः सर्वकामफलप्रदः । सिन्धुतीरे कपालेशो वक्त्रेशः सर्वपापहा

Transliteration

tathā vaṭeśvaraḥ khyātaḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ | sindhutīre kapāleśo vaktreśaḥ sarvapāpahā

Translation

ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ ಅವನು ವಟೇಶ್ವರನೆಂದು ಖ್ಯಾತ—ಸರ್ವಕಾಮಫಲಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುವವನು. ಸಿಂಧು ನದೀತೀರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಪಾಲೇಶ; ವಕ್ತ್ರೇಶನು ಸರ್ವಪಾಪಹರನು.

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• वटेश्वरः: Vaṭeśvara (Lord of the banyan)
• वटेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वटस्य ईश्वरः)

• ख्यातः: is famed
• ख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is famed’

• सर्वकामफलप्रदः: giver of the fruits of all desires
• सर्वकामफलप्रदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-काम-फल-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां कामानां फलानि प्रददाति) विशेषणम्

• सिन्धुतीरे: on the bank of the Sindhu
• सिन्धुतीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु-तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सिन्धोः तीरम्)

• कपालेशः: Kapāleśa
• कपालेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपालस्य ईशः)

• वक्त्रेशः: Vaktreśa
• वक्त्रेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वक्त्रस्य ईशः)

• सर्वपापहा: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपापहा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-पाप-हन् (धातु) → ह (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वं पापं हन्ति) विशेषणम्; ‘हा’ = हन्-धातोः agent-noun form

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vateshvara
• Kapalesha
• Vaktresha
• Sindhu

FAQs

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

The verse praises specific Śiva-liṅga manifestations as tīrthas where devotion bears both worldly fulfillment (sarva-kāma-phala) and purification (sarva-pāpa-hara), reflecting Śiva as Pati who grants grace and removes bondage.

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

It presents Śiva in a saguna, approachable form as named Liṅgas tied to places; worship (darśana, pūjā, japa) at such forms is taught as a direct means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace) and cleansing of impurities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with water/abhisheka, repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate repentance and devotion—seeking pāpa-kṣaya (sin-removal) and śuddhi (inner purity).