Shloka 27

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

शालिग्रामशिलादीनां पूजकाहोमतत्पराः । प्रतिकूलविचाराश्च कुटिला द्विजदूषकाः

Transliteration

śāligrāmaśilādīnāṃ pūjakāhomatatparāḥ | pratikūlavicārāśca kuṭilā dvijadūṣakāḥ

Translation

إنهم مواظبون على عبادة أحجار الشالاغراما (Śālagrāma) وما شابهها، ومجتهدون في قرابين الهوما؛ غير أن أفكارهم معانِدةٌ معاكِسة، وسلوكهم ملتَوٍ، وهم يسيئون إلى الدڤيجا (المولودين مرتين) ويطعنون فيهم.

Word by Word

• शालिग्रामशिलादीनाम्: of Śālagrāma stones and the like
• शालिग्रामशिलादीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालिग्राम + शिला + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-समाहार (collective), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व + ‘आदि’ (and the like)

• पूजकाः: worshippers
• पूजकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजक (प्रातिपदिक; पूज् (धातु) + ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• अहोमतत्पराः: devoted to non-homa (neglecting fire-offering)
• अहोमतत्पराः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहोम + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अहोमे तत्पराः = devoted to non-homa / not performing homa)

• प्रतिकूलविचाराः: having hostile thoughts
• प्रतिकूलविचाराः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिकूल + विचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (प्रतिकूला विचाराः)

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

• कुटिलाः: crooked, deceitful
• कुटिलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• द्विजदूषकाः: defamers of the twice-born
• द्विजदूषकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विज + दूषक (प्रातिपदिक); दूष् (धातु) + ण्वुल्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्विजान् दूषयन्ति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is presented as the touchstone where sectarian or object-centered religiosity (e.g., stone-worship) must be subordinated to Viśveśvara-bhakti and ethical purity; the verse critiques ritual performance coexisting with malice and social-religious hostility.

Significance: Kāśī-yātrā is portrayed as purifying pratikūla-bhāva (hostile disposition) through satsanga and Śiva-sevā; it reorients worship from mere object to the Lord (Pati).

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga: ritualism with inner malice (dharma-ābhāsa under tirodhāna)

FAQs

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

It warns that external religiosity—worship and homa—becomes spiritually hollow if the heart is filled with hostility, deceit, and disrespect; Shaiva teaching emphasizes purification of intention (bhāva) along with right practice.

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

Linga/Saguna worship in the Shiva Purana is meant to refine the devotee into humility, compassion, and truthfulness; this verse highlights that without such inner alignment, ritual worship does not mature into Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is self-examination alongside worship—perform japa (especially the Panchakshara) and puja with a non-hostile mind, avoiding slander and cultivating straightforward conduct as part of Shiva-sadhana.