Shloka 4

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्य्याश्रमे निष्ठो ब्रह्मयज्ञरतस्सदा । शाण्डिल्यगोत्रः शुचिमान्ब्रह्मतेजो निधिर्व्वशी

Transliteration

brahmacaryyāśrame niṣṭho brahmayajñaratassadā | śāṇḍilyagotraḥ śucimānbrahmatejo nidhirvvaśī

Translation

Er war fest im Āśrama des Brahmacarya gegründet, stets dem Brahma-yajña (vedischem Studium und heiliger Rezitation) hingegeben. Aus der Śāṇḍilya-Linie stammend, war er rein im Wandel, ein Hort brahmischen Glanzes und Herr über seine Sinne.

Word by Word

• brahmacarya-āśrame: in the brahmacarya-āśrama (student stage)
• brahmacarya-āśrame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacarya + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana; samāsa: brahmacaryasya āśramaḥ (stage of brahmacarya)

• niṣṭhaḥ: steadfast
• niṣṭhaḥ: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान-नाम/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; (steadfast/established)

• brahmayajña-rataḥ: devoted to brahma-yajña
• brahmayajña-rataḥ: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान-नाम/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahma-yajña + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: brahmayajñe rataḥ (devoted to brahma-yajña)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; kāla-avyaya (adverb of time)

• śāṇḍilya-gotraḥ: of the Śāṇḍilya lineage
• śāṇḍilya-gotraḥ: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान-नाम/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāṇḍilya + gotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: śāṇḍilyasya gotram (of Śāṇḍilya lineage)

• śucimān: pure
• śucimān: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान-नाम/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śucimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; matup-anta (possessive adjective)

• brahma-tejaḥ: brahmanic/spiritual radiance
• brahma-tejaḥ: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान-नाम/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: brahmaṇaḥ tejaḥ (spiritual radiance)

• nidhiḥ: treasure; repository
• nidhiḥ: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान-नाम/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• vaśī: self-controlled; masterful
• vaśī: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधान-नाम/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse praises the foundational sādhana that prepares a seeker for Shiva-realization: brahmacarya, purity, Vedic recitation as worship (brahma-yajña), and mastery over the senses—qualities that refine the pashu (bound soul) toward the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

In Shaiva practice, outer worship of the Liṅga becomes potent when supported by inner discipline. Brahmacarya, śauca (purity), and steady sacred recitation stabilize the mind so Saguna Shiva worship (arcana, japa) can mature into deeper contemplation of Shiva’s supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily brahma-yajña—regular svādhyāya (scripture study) and mantra-recitation—combined with brahmacarya and sense-restraint. As a Shaiva takeaway, this pairs naturally with Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and disciplined, pure living.