Shloka 21

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

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

Devanagari script

पश्चिमाभिमुखम्पंचशिरसम्परमाद्भुतम् । सकृद्दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वाघक्षयकारणम्

Transliteration

paścimābhimukhampaṃcaśirasamparamādbhutam | sakṛddarśanamātreṇa sarvāghakṣayakāraṇam

Translation

Facing west, that supremely wondrous five-faced form (of Śiva) is such that even a single act of beholding it becomes a cause for the destruction of all sins.

Word by Word

• पश्चिमाभिमुखम्: facing west
• पश्चिमाभिमुखम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिमाभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक: पश्चिम+अभिमुख)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पञ्चशिरसम्: five-headed
• पञ्चशिरसम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक: पञ्च+शिरस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• परम: supreme
• परम: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, संख्यावाचक/कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: once)

• दर्शनमात्रेण: by mere sight
• दर्शनमात्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शनमात्र (प्रातिपदिक: दर्शन+मात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मात्र = only)

• सर्वाघक्षयकारणम्: the cause of the destruction of all sins
• सर्वाघक्षयकारणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वाघक्षयकारण (प्रातिपदिक: सर्व+अघ+क्षय+कारण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (that which is the cause of destruction of all sins)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Kālahastīśa is described as west-facing and five-headed; mere darśana destroys sins. The five heads evoke Sadāśiva’s pañcabrahma aspect (Sadyojāta, Vāmadeva, Aghora, Tatpuruṣa, Īśāna), localizing high theology into kṣetra-iconography.

Significance: Darśana-māhātmya: pāpa-kṣaya by sight signifies Pati’s anugraha overriding pāśa (karma-mala) when the paśu approaches the kṣetra with receptivity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace operates powerfully through darśana: sincere beholding of the Lord’s sacred form can burn accumulated pāpa and turn the devotee toward purity and liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva accessible through form and direction—showing that worship and darśana of Śiva’s manifested presence (including the Liṅga and pañcamukha forms) is a direct means of purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform focused darśana with devotion—approach Śiva (Liṅga or icon), offer water/bilva, recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and contemplate Śiva’s five-faced sovereignty as a purifier of the mind.