Shloka 36

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

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

Devanagari script

त्वदुपागमकल्याणं कांक्षंते विवशा भृशम् । तिष्ठन्ति ते निराहारा इत्युक्त्वा विरराम सा

Transliteration

tvadupāgamakalyāṇaṃ kāṃkṣaṃte vivaśā bhṛśam | tiṣṭhanti te nirāhārā ityuktvā virarāma sā

Translation

“They long intensely—almost helplessly—for the blessedness of your arrival. They remain standing without taking food.” Having spoken thus, she fell silent.

Word by Word

• त्वदुपागमकल्याणम्: the auspiciousness of your arrival
• त्वदुपागमकल्याणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् + उपागम + कल्याण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्वदुपागमस्य कल्याणम्)

• काङ्क्षन्ते: they long for
• काङ्क्षन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: काङ्क्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• विवशाः: helpless
• विवशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), बहुवचन; कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्

• भृशम्: greatly
• भृशम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of intensity)

• तिष्ठन्ति: they remain/stand
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• निराहाराः: without food
• निराहाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘ते’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having said)

• विरराम: ceased/stopped
• विरराम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्णभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s sages fast in longing for the teacher’s arrival; this mirrors Kāśī-māhātmya themes where intense yearning (viraha-bhakti) and tapas in Śiva’s city quickly ripen into grace and instruction.

Significance: Fasting and waiting for śiva-kathā/upadeśa in Kāśī is portrayed as highly meritorious, accelerating purification and receptivity to grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti as a transformative force: the devotees’ intense yearning for Shiva’s presence and their willingness to fast shows single-pointed devotion that draws grace (anugraha) and leads the bound soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Awaiting Shiva’s “arrival” reflects Saguna devotion—seeking darśana of Shiva in a worshipable form (including the Liṅga). The mood is personal and relational: the devotee longs for proximity to Shiva, which is central to temple worship and Liṅga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests nirāhāra-vrata (fasting) combined with steady waiting and remembrance—practically expressed through japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintaining purity, and sustaining devotion until Shiva’s grace is felt.