Shloka 23

Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

आलयः सर्वसिद्धानामेतत् स्थानं वदन्ति हि / गोपितं देवदेवेन महादेवेन शंभुना

Transliteration

ālayaḥ sarvasiddhānāmetat sthānaṃ vadanti hi / gopitaṃ devadevena mahādevena śaṃbhunā

Translation

ఈ స్థలం సమస్త సిద్ధుల ఆలయమని వారు చెబుతారు; దేవదేవ మహాదేవ శంభువు దీనిని గోప్యంగా కాపాడి ఉంచాడు।

Word by Word

• आलयः: abode
• आलयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्व-सिद्धानाम्: of all siddhas
• सर्व-सिद्धानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (of all siddhas/perfected ones)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘स्थानम्’

• स्थानम्: place
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वदन्ति: they say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (for/indeed)

• गोपितम्: is protected/hidden
• गोपितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘(is) protected/kept hidden’

• देव-देवेन: by the God of gods
• देव-देवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (by the god of gods)

• महा-देवेन: by Mahādeva
• महा-देवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (the great god)

• शंभुना: by Śambhu
• शंभुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial voice within the tirtha-mahatmya context (Purva-bhaga pilgrimage-site description), attributing the site’s secrecy to Mahadeva (Shiva).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Siddhas
• Mahadeva
• Shambhu
• Deva-deva (Shiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly: by presenting a “hidden abode of Siddhas” guarded by Mahādeva, the verse points to esoteric, inward realization—Siddhahood arises where divine protection and secrecy symbolize inner restraint and concentrated awareness, the usual prerequisites for Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes gupti (concealment/guarding) and siddha-sthāna (a perfected space), aligning with yogic discipline: secrecy of practice, withdrawal from distraction, and sustained tapas leading to siddhi—ideas consonant with Pāśupata-oriented ascetic culture reflected in the Kurma Purana.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By naming Mahādeva as the divine guardian of a supreme siddha-abode within the Kurma Purana’s sacred geography, it supports the Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: Vishnu’s Purana honors Shiva’s sovereignty in protecting holy realities, reflecting complementary (not rival) divinity.