Shloka 29

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

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

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नेव समये सद्गुरुः करुणानिधिः । नीलजीमूतसङ्काशो विद्युत्पिङ्गजटाधरः

Transliteration

etasminneva samaye sadguruḥ karuṇānidhiḥ | nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśo vidyutpiṅgajaṭādharaḥ

Translation

At that very moment, the true Guru—an ocean of compassion—appeared, resembling a dark-blue rain cloud, bearing matted locks tawny like lightning.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• समये: at the time
• समये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• सत्-गुरुः: the true guru
• सत्-गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सन् गुरु: ‘true guru’)

• करुणा-निधिः: a treasure of compassion
• करुणा-निधिः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणा (प्रातिपदिक) + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (करुणायाः निधिः)

• नील-जीमूत-सङ्काशः: resembling a dark-blue cloud
• नील-जीमूत-सङ्काशः: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier of sadguruḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + जीमूत (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नीलजीमूतवत् सङ्काशः)

• विद्युत्-पिङ्ग-जटा-धरः: bearing tawny matted locks like lightning
• विद्युत्-पिङ्ग-जटा-धरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier of sadguruḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विद्युदिव पिङ्गा जटा यस्य सः; जटां धरतीति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sadguru (Shiva as Guru)

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Sadguru—compassion itself—who manifests at the right time to guide the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation through right knowledge and grace.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva: the Guru-form with describable marks (cloud-hued body, lightning-like matted hair). Such contemplation supports devotion that matures into insight into Shiva’s supreme reality beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Guru-dhyāna (meditation on Shiva as Sadguru) with japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied, cultivating surrender to Shiva’s grace and inner guidance.