Shloka 8

शिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

गोपेश्वरः समाख्यातः रंगेश्वर इति स्मृतः । वामेश्वरश्च नागेशः काजेशो विमलेश्वरः

Transliteration

gopeśvaraḥ samākhyātaḥ raṃgeśvara iti smṛtaḥ | vāmeśvaraśca nāgeśaḥ kājeśo vimaleśvaraḥ

Translation

അവൻ ഗോപേശ്വരൻ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധൻ; രംഗേശ്വരൻ എന്നും സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. വാമേശ്വരൻ, നാഗേശൻ; കൂടാതെ കാജേശൻ, വിമലേശ്വരൻ എന്ന രൂപത്തിലും പൂജിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• गोपेश्वरः: Gopeśvara
• गोपेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (गोपस्य ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समाख्यातः: is proclaimed/known
• समाख्यातः: Kriyā (क्रिया/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is proclaimed/known’

• रंगेश्वरः: Raṅgeśvara
• रंगेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (रङ्गस्य ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus/‘as’
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/नामनिर्देशक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• स्मृतः: is remembered/called
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/called’

• वामेश्वरः: Vāmeśvara
• वामेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (वामस्य ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• नागेशः: Nāgeśa
• नागेशः: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (नागस्य ईशः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• काजेशः: Kājeśa
• काजेशः: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काज (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (काजस्य ईशः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विमलेश्वरः: Vimaleśvara
• विमलेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (विमलः ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, in the Kotirudra Samhita’s Jyotirlinga/kshetra glorification style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara

Sthala Purana: The verse strings together kṣetra-epithets; “Nāgeśa” evokes Śiva as lord of serpents (kuṇḍalinī/ābharaṇa symbolism in later Śaiva imagination) and as protector from विष (poison) and भय (fear).

Significance: Protection, removal of fear/poison-like afflictions, steadiness in sādhana; remembrance that the one Pati appears as many kṣetra-liṅgas.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that the one Pati (Lord Śiva) is approached through many sacred names tied to specific kṣetras and forms; remembering these names is a bhakti-practice that purifies the paśu (bound soul) and turns awareness toward Śiva’s grace.

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

These epithets function as kṣetra- and liṅga-associated names of Saguna Śiva—Śiva made accessible through a consecrated emblem (liṅga) and a local tradition—so devotees can worship the same Supreme through established forms, places, and titles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice nāma-japa and smaraṇa: recite these Śiva-nāmas (optionally with the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offer water/bilva to the liṅga, and meditate on Śiva as Vimala (the stainless purifier) while seeking inner cleansing.