Shloka 35

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire

Devanagari script

एवमब्दमितं कालन्तताप स तपोऽद्भुतम् । त्रिकालमर्चयद्भक्त्या वीरेशं लिङ्गमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

evamabdamitaṃ kālantatāpa sa tapo'dbhutam | trikālamarcayadbhaktyā vīreśaṃ liṅgamuttamam

Translation

وهكذا، في سنينٍ مقدَّرة، أجرى تقشّفاً عجيباً؛ وبالبهكتي كان يعبد في الأوقات الثلاثة المقدّسة من كل يوم اللِّينغا الفاضلة «فيريشا»—شِيفا المتجلّي في هيئةٍ رحيمةٍ جديرةٍ بالعبادة.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: सम्बन्ध (क्रियाविशेषण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय; adverb of manner

• अब्दमितम्: measured as a year
• अब्दमितम्: विशेषण (काल-विशेषण/Qualifier of time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अब्द-मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular; (अब्देन मितम् = measured by a year)

• कालम्: time (period)
• कालम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• तताप: performed austerity / did penance
• तताप: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular pronoun

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful, extraordinary
• अद्भुतम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; adjective qualifying तपः

• त्रिकालम्: three times a day
• त्रिकालम्: अत्यन्तसंयोग (कालाधिकरण/Time-extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; adverbial accusative (at three times)

• अर्चयत्: worshipped
• अर्चयत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वीरेशम्: Vīreśa (a form/name of Śiva)
• वीरेशम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object of worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object—appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; in apposition to वीरेशम्

• उत्तमम्: supreme, excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; adjective qualifying लिङ्गम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vīreśa

FAQs

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

It teaches that sustained tapas, when rooted in bhakti, becomes a purifying discipline that turns the mind toward Pati (Śiva) and prepares the soul for grace; worship of the Liṅga anchors devotion in a concrete, sacred form.

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

The verse highlights arcana (ritual worship) of Śiva as the Liṅga—Saguna access to the transcendent—showing that approaching Śiva through the ‘uttama liṅga’ is a valid and exalted means for communion and blessing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Trikāla pūjā—worship at dawn, noon, and dusk—implying regular mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offerings, and a disciplined life of tapas alongside devotion.