Shloka 17

ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग-तदुपलिङ्ग-माहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Jyotirliṅga and Associated Liṅgas

Devanagari script

लोकानामुपकारार्थं स्वलिंगं चाप्यकल्पयत् । तल्लिंगं पूजयित्वा तु सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति

Transliteration

lokānāmupakārārthaṃ svaliṃgaṃ cāpyakalpayat | talliṃgaṃ pūjayitvā tu siddhiṃ samadhigacchati

Translation

സകല ലോകങ്ങളുടെ ഉപകാരാർത്ഥം അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ സ്വലിംഗവും പ്രത്യക്ഷമാക്കി. ആ ലിംഗത്തെ പൂജിച്ചാൽ ഭക്തൻ നിശ്ചയമായി സിദ്ധി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (Genitive Plural)

• उपकारार्थम्: for the sake of helping
• उपकारार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular) प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose); चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषः (‘उपकाराय अर्थः’)

• स्वलिङ्गम्: his own liṅga
• स्वलिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular); कर्मधारयः (‘स्वं लिङ्गम्’)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• अकल्पयत्: prepared/arranged/created
• अकल्पयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः अ- (here as augment)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; लिङ्गम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• सिद्धिम्: success/accomplishment
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• समधिगच्छति: attains
• समधिगच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अधि-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudra-saṃhitā account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse frames the Liṅga as Śiva’s self-manifested means for lokānugraha (universal welfare): Śiva ‘ordains/manifests His own Liṅga’ so embodied beings can approach the transcendent Pati through a concrete upāsanā.

Significance: Worship of Śiva’s Liṅga is presented as a direct upāya for siddhi—read in Śaiva Siddhānta as purification (mala-kṣaya) and eligibility for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva reveals the Liṅga out of compassion for all beings, making divine grace accessible; sincere worship of the Liṅga leads to siddhi—steadfast devotion culminating in liberation-oriented spiritual fulfillment.

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

The Liṅga is Shiva’s worshipable manifestation (saguṇa-upāsanā support) through which devotees approach the transcendent (nirguṇa) reality; honoring “that very Liṅga” is presented as a direct means to realize Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with devotion—offer water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’)—as a focused practice for attaining siddhi and inner purification.