Shloka 5

Ghuśmeśa-jyotirliṅga-māhātmya

The Greatness of the Ghuśmeśa Jyotirlinga

Devanagari script

सुधर्मा च द्विजश्रेष्ठो देवतातिथिपूजकः । वेदमार्गपरो नित्यमग्नि सेवापरायणः

Transliteration

sudharmā ca dvijaśreṣṭho devatātithipūjakaḥ | vedamārgaparo nityamagni sevāparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Und Sudharmā, der Vornehmste unter den Zweimalgeborenen, verehrte die Gottheiten und ehrte die Gäste. Stets dem vedischen Pfad zugetan, war er unablässig dem Dienst am heiligen Feuer (Agni) hingegeben.

Word by Word

• सुधर्मा: Sudharmā
• सुधर्मा: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधर्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• द्विजश्रेष्ठः: the best of the twice-born
• द्विजश्रेष्ठः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: द्विजानां श्रेष्ठः (best of brāhmaṇas)

• देवताऽतिथिपूजकः: one who honors deities and guests
• देवताऽतिथिपूजकः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + अतिथि + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: देवताः च अतिथयः च (dvandva) तेषां पूजकः (worshipper/honorer)

• वेदमार्गपरः: devoted to the Vedic path
• वेदमार्गपरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदमार्ग + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: वेदानां मार्गः (Vedic path) तस्मिन् परः (devoted)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण; frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक एकवचनम् (adverbial accusative)

• अग्निसेवापरायणः: wholly devoted to serving the sacred fire
• अग्निसेवापरायणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + सेवा + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: अग्नेः सेवा (service to fire/Agni) तस्याम् परायणः (wholly devoted)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It presents Sudharmā as an exemplar of dharma: reverence to devas, service to guests, and steady adherence to Vedic discipline—qualities that purify the mind and make one fit for Śiva-bhakti and grace.

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

In the Shiva Purana, outer disciplines like Agni-sevā and atithi-pūjā support inner purity; such purity stabilizes devotion so that Linga-worship (Saguna Śiva upāsanā) becomes focused and fruitful, culminating in Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to regular sacred-fire observances (Agnihotra/Agni-sevā) and the vow of honoring guests; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair this discipline with daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and pure conduct.