Shloka 56

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः

Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins

Devanagari script

प्रभासं च परिक्रम्य पृथिवीक्रमसंभवम् । फलं प्राप्नोति शुद्धात्मा मृतः स्वर्गे महीयते

Transliteration

prabhāsaṃ ca parikramya pṛthivīkramasaṃbhavam | phalaṃ prāpnoti śuddhātmā mṛtaḥ svarge mahīyate

Translation

ପୃଥିବୀକୁ ଆବର୍ତ୍ତିତ କରିଥିବା ଦିବ୍ୟ ପାଦକ୍ରମରୁ ଉତ୍ପନ୍ନ ପ୍ରଭାସକୁ ପରିକ୍ରମା କରି ଶୁଦ୍ଧାତ୍ମା ଫଳ ପାଏ; ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ପରେ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗରେ ସମ୍ମାନିତ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• प्रभासम्: Prabhāsa (holy place)
• प्रभासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (परिक्रम्य)

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

• परिक्रम्य: having circumambulated
• परिक्रम्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्ययभाव; ‘having circumambulated’

• पृथिवीक्रमसंभवम्: arisen from Pṛthivīkrama
• पृथिवीक्रमसंभवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथिवी + क्रम + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पृथिवीक्रमस्य सम्भवम्/सम्भूतम्); विशेषणम् (प्रभासम्)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शुद्धात्मा: one of purified self
• शुद्धात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (शुद्धः आत्मा यस्य); कर्ता

• मृतः: having died
• मृतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘dead’; कर्तृ-विशेषणम्

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• महीयते: is honored / is glorified
• महीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the tīrtha-māhātmya to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Somanātha

Sthala Purana: Prabhāsa is praised as a kṣetra arising from a divine ‘stride’ (pṛthivīkrama-saṃbhava), and pradakṣiṇā of the tīrtha yields merit and post-mortem heavenly honor.

Significance: Pradakṣiṇā (parikrama) of Prabhāsa purifies the mind (śuddhātmā) and accrues puṇya; in Siddhānta terms, it supports maturation toward Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotional circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā) of a Shaiva sacred place like Prabhāsa purifies the seeker and yields definite spiritual merit, culminating in exalted post-mortem states—an outward act reflecting inward surrender to Pati (Shiva).

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

Prabhāsa is praised as a manifest (saguṇa) sacred geography where Shiva’s grace is accessible; circumambulation functions like pradakṣiṇā of the Liṅga—honoring Shiva as present in a consecrated form and place, thereby generating purification and merit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pradakṣiṇā with a purified mind—ideally while repeating the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—and keep Shaiva observances such as bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and simple vrata discipline during the pilgrimage.