Shloka 42

Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)

Devanagari script

घृतस्नानं ततः कृत्वा पुत्रस्य गिरिजा स्वयम् । त्रिरावृत्तोपवीतं च ग्रन्थिनैकेन संयुतम्

Transliteration

ghṛtasnānaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā putrasya girijā svayam | trirāvṛttopavītaṃ ca granthinaikena saṃyutam

Translation

Darauf vollzog Girijā (Pārvatī) selbst für ihren Sohn das rituelle Bad mit Ghee. Auch legte sie ihm die heilige Schnur (yajñopavīta) an, dreifach getragen und durch einen einzigen Knoten verbunden.

Word by Word

• घृत-स्नानम्: ghee-bath (bath with ghee)
• घृत-स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (घृतेन/घृतस्य स्नानम्)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘thereafter/then’

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having done’

• पुत्रस्य: of (her) son
• पुत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• गिरिजा: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: herself
• स्वयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः सूचक (emphatic/reflexive adverb)

• त्रिः-आवृत्त-उपवीतम्: the sacred thread worn with three turns
• त्रिः-आवृत्त-उपवीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय) + आवृत्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रिः आवृत्तं यत् उपवीतम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ग्रन्थिना: with a knot
• ग्रन्थिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रन्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/सह (instrumental)

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• संयुतम्: joined/fastened
• संयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘joined/connected’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights śuddhi (purification) and saṃskāra (sacred formation): external rites like ghṛta-snāna and the upavīta are portrayed as preparing the individual to live a dharmic life oriented toward devotion (bhakti) and right conduct under Śiva’s grace.

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

By emphasizing consecration and purity, the verse supports the Shaiva ideal that worship of Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga-pūjā) is best approached with disciplined, sanctified living—ritual readiness reflecting inner reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A purification rite (snāna) followed by donning the upavīta as a sign of vrata and discipline; as a Shaiva takeaway, pair such readiness with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before daily worship.