Shloka 15

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

Sūta’s Return to Kāśī and the Observances of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

एवं स्थितेषु सर्वेषु नमस्कृत्य समंत्रकम् । अथ प्राह मुनीन्द्राणां भाववृद्धिकरम्वच

Transliteration

evaṃ sthiteṣu sarveṣu namaskṛtya samaṃtrakam | atha prāha munīndrāṇāṃ bhāvavṛddhikaramvaca

Translation

When all were thus assembled and settled, he offered reverent obeisance together with the appropriate mantra; then he spoke to the foremost of sages words that increased and deepened their devotional disposition (bhāva).

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• स्थितेषु: when (they) were present/standing
• स्थितेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; locative absolute component)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle ‘स्थित’), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘स्थितेषु’ = ‘when (they) were situated/standing’

• सर्वेषु: in/among all (of them)
• सर्वेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; with locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied ‘जन/मुनि’)

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from ‘नमस्करोति’; अर्थ: ‘नमस्कृत्वा’ (having saluted)

• समन्त्रकम्: together with mantras / with a mantra
• समन्त्रकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; qualifies implied act/‘नमस्कारम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समास: स-मन्त्रक = मन्त्रेण सह/मन्त्रयुक्तम् (with mantra; descriptive)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequencing particle)

• प्राह: he said
• प्राह: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √अह्/ब्रू (said/spoke)

• मुनीन्द्राणाम्: of the lords among sages
• मुनीन्द्राणाम्: सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (Genitive; ‘to/of the sage-lords’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समास: मुनीनां इन्द्राः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• भाववृद्धिकरम्: causing increase of devotion/feeling
• भाववृद्धिकरम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier of ‘वचः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव + वृद्धि + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समास: भावस्य वृद्धिं करोति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis that true instruction should be preceded by humility and mantra—outer reverence (namaskara) aligning the seeker’s inner bhava so the teaching becomes transformative rather than merely informational.

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

The verse models the standard approach to Saguna Shiva worship: begin with mantra and obeisance, then receive or contemplate teachings that intensify devotion—mirroring how Linga-puja starts with mantra, pranama, and focused bhava.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform namaskara with mantra-recitation (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), then listen/recite sacred discourse to cultivate bhava—an easy daily sadhana also suitable for Mahashivratri observance.