Shloka 14

Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ

Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship

Devanagari script

शुकश्च शौनकाद्याश्च शङ्करस्य प्रपूजकाः । अन्येऽपि बहवस्सन्ति मुनयो मुनिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

śukaśca śaunakādyāśca śaṅkarasya prapūjakāḥ | anye'pi bahavassanti munayo munisattamāḥ

Translation

Śuka, Śaunaka und auch andere sind hingebungsvolle Verehrer Śaṅkaras. Viele weitere Weisen—die Besten unter den Asketen—sind wahrlich zugegen als ehrfürchtige Anbeter Seiner.

Word by Word

• शुकः: Śuka
• शुकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (ऋषिनाम)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शौनकाद्याः: Śaunaka and others
• शौनकाद्याः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; आदि-तत्पुरुषः (शौनकः आदिः येषां ते)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शङ्करस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शङ्करस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रपूजकाः: great worshippers
• प्रपूजकाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग-प्र (intensive)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सन्ति: are; exist
• सन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मुनिसत्तमाः: best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमाः: अपादान/विशेषणवत्-सम्बन्ध (Predicative apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां सत्तमाः = best among sages)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shuka
• Shaunaka
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that the highest sages—exemplified by Śuka and Śaunaka—are foremost among Śiva’s worshippers, implying that true spiritual excellence culminates in devoted reverence to Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord.

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

By naming renowned ṛṣis as “prapūjakāḥ” of Śaṅkara, the text affirms the legitimacy of Saguna worship—commonly expressed in Śiva Purāṇa through Liṅga-pūjā—as a revered path embraced by realized sages.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is satsanga with Śiva-bhaktas and steady Śiva-pūjā—such as daily Liṅga worship with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with traditional aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.