Shloka 44
प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
समस्तसंपत्समवाप्तिहेतवः समुत्थितापत्कुलधूमकेतवः । अपारसंसारसमुद्रसेतवः पुनन्तु मां ब्राह्मणपादरेणवः
samastasaṃpatsamavāptihetavaḥ samutthitāpatkuladhūmaketavaḥ | apārasaṃsārasamudrasetavaḥ punantu māṃ brāhmaṇapādareṇavaḥ
Möge mich der Staub von den Füßen der Brahmanen läutern — jener Staub, der Ursache allen Gedeihens ist, ein Rauchbanner, das aufsteigt und die Vernichtung der Schar der Unheile verkündet, und eine Brücke über den grenzenlosen Ozean des Saṃsāra.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; a laudatory verse (praśasti) on brāhmaṇa-pāda-reṇu as purifier and as a ‘bridge’ over saṃsāra—used here to sacralize the śrāddha’s brāhmaṇa-satkāra.
Significance: Teaches that humility and service to dharma-knowers becomes a means of purification and saṃsāra-tāraṇa (crossing over), aligning ritual merit with inner transformation.
Mantra: समस्तसंपत्समवाप्तिहेतवः समुत्थितापत्कुलधूमकेतवः । अपारसंसारसमुद्रसेतवः पुनन्तु मां ब्राह्मणपादरेणवः
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It praises the sanctifying power of reverence to realized, Veda-rooted Brahmanas (and by extension true gurus and saints): their “foot-dust” symbolizes humility, satsanga, and grace that dissolves karmic obstacles and helps one cross saṃsāra toward Shiva’s liberation.
In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship is strengthened by right conduct (sadācāra) and honoring Shiva’s devotees; serving Brahmanas and holy persons is treated as service to Shiva Himself, making devotion (bhakti) fruitful and removing impediments to worship.
Practice humility and service: offer respect and charity to worthy Brahmanas/saints, seek their blessings, and combine this with daily Shiva-upāsanā—Pañcākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, where appropriate, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as supportive disciplines.