Shloka 48

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

सर्व एव स्वयं साक्षाद् अतिथिर्यत्पिनाकधृक् तस्मादतिथये दत्त्वा आत्मानमपि पूजय

Transliteration

sarva eva svayaṃ sākṣād atithiryatpinākadhṛk tasmādatithaye dattvā ātmānamapi pūjaya

Translation

اعلم أن كلَّ ضيفٍ هو في الحقيقة الربُّ حاملُ بيناكا نفسه متجلّيًا. لذلك، بعد أن تُقدِّم للضيف، فاعبد الذات أيضًا، مُدرِكًا أن الباتي (شيفا) قائمٌ في الداخل شاهدًا باطنيًّا.

Word by Word

• सर्वे (sarve): all (beings/people)

• एव (eva): indeed

• स्वयं (svayam): by Himself/itself

• साक्षात् (sākṣāt): directly, manifestly

• अतिथिः (atithiḥ): guest

• यत् (yat): because/that which

• पिनाकधृक् (pinākadhṛk): the bearer of the bow Pināka (Śiva)

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• अतिथये (atithaye): to the guest

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given/offered

• आत्मानम् (ātmānam): the Self/one’s own inner being

• अपि (api): also

• पूजय (pūjaya): worship, honor

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-dharma teachings within the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It equates honoring the atithi with honoring Śiva Himself; guest-offering becomes a form of Śiva-pūjā, aligning daily dharma with Linga-centered devotion.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is presented as both manifest (appearing as the guest) and immanent (to be worshiped as the inner Self), indicating Pati as the indwelling witness beyond external forms.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Atithi-satkara (hospitality as worship) is emphasized, along with inward reverence—recognizing the Self as the seat of Śiva and purifying the pashu through right action and devotion.