Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 46
अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना
Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga
द्विजा ऊचुः । महाकाल महादेव दुष्टदण्डकर प्रभो । मुक्तिं प्रयच्छ नश्शंभो संसारांबुधितश्शिव
dvijā ūcuḥ | mahākāla mahādeva duṣṭadaṇḍakara prabho | muktiṃ prayaccha naśśaṃbho saṃsārāṃbudhitaśśiva
ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନେ କହିଲେ— ହେ ମହାକାଳ, ହେ ମହାଦେବ, ଦୁଷ୍ଟଙ୍କୁ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦେଉଥିବା ପ୍ରଭୁ! ହେ ଶମ୍ଭୁ, ଆମକୁ ମୁକ୍ତି ଦିଅ; ହେ ଶିବ, ସଂସାର-ସମୁଦ୍ରରୁ ଆମକୁ ପାର କର।
The dvijas (brahmins/devotees) addressing Lord Shiva (Mahakala)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
FAQs
It is a direct bhakti-prayer to Shiva as Mahākāla, acknowledging him as the moral governor who restrains evil and as the compassionate Lord who alone grants moksha by carrying the soul beyond saṁsāra.
In the Kotirudrasaṁhitā’s Jyotirlinga context, devotees approach Saguna Shiva—Mahākāla—as the accessible, worship-worthy Lord whose manifested presence (Linga/Jyotirlinga) becomes the doorway to liberation.
The verse suggests heartfelt surrender and repetition of Shiva-nāma (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a moksha-intent, alongside Jyotirlinga darśana and prayer to be freed from the “ocean of saṁsāra.”