Shloka 48

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

महालयन्तथोंकारक्षेत्रं वै पुरुषोत्तमम् । गोकर्णं भृगुकच्छं च भृगुतुंगं च पुष्करम्

Transliteration

mahālayantathoṃkārakṣetraṃ vai puruṣottamam | gokarṇaṃ bhṛgukacchaṃ ca bhṛgutuṃgaṃ ca puṣkaram

Translation

ಮಹಾಲಯ, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಓಂಕಾರಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮ; ಗೋಕರ್ಣ, ಭೃಗುಕಚ್ಛ, ಭೃಗುತುಂಗ ಮತ್ತು ಪುಷ್ಕರ—ಇವನ್ನೂ ಸ್ಮರಿಸಿ ದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು।

Word by Word

• महालयम्: Mahālaya
• महालयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (तीर्थ-नाम)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘एवम्/तद्वत्’ अर्थे

• ओंकारक्षेत्रम्: Oṃkāra-kṣetra (Omkareshwar region)
• ओंकारक्षेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ओंकारस्य क्षेत्रम्)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण/खलु-अर्थे

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Puruṣottama (Puri/Jagannath)
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣottama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (तीर्थ-नाम)

• गोकर्णम्: Gokarṇa
• गोकर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gokarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (तीर्थ-नाम)

• भृगुकच्छम्: Bhṛgu-kaccha (Bharuch)
• भृगुकच्छम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक) + kaccha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भृगोः कच्छः)

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

• भृगुतुङ्गम्: Bhṛgu-tuṅga
• भृगुतुङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक) + tuṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भृगोः तुङ्गम्/उच्चस्थानम्)

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

• पुष्करम्: Puṣkara
• पुष्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (तीर्थ-नाम)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara

Sthala Purana: Oṃkāra-kṣetra is explicitly named; tradition situates it on the Narmadā at Māṇḍhātā, where Śiva is worshiped as Oṃkāreśvara, the liṅga embodying praṇava (Oṃ) and granting fulfillment of aims and liberation.

Significance: Praṇava-kṣetra: pilgrimage is linked with inner recollection of Oṃ and Śiva-bhakti; bathing in Narmadā and liṅga-darśana are sought for purification and mokṣa-sādhana.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a sacred catalogue of tīrthas and kṣetras, teaching that contact with Shiva-associated places—especially those linked with Oṃ—purifies the bound soul (paśu) and supports liberation through devotion and right orientation to Pati (Shiva).

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

Many named sites are traditionally connected with Shiva’s manifest presence (saguṇa) in kṣetras and liṅga worship; the verse encourages approaching Shiva through concrete sacred geography, where liṅga-darśana, pūjā, and remembrance intensify bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage with japa of Oṃ and the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), combined with simple tīrtha disciplines—snāna (sacred bathing), liṅga-arcana, and inner contemplation of Shiva as the indwelling Lord.