Shloka 40

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

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

Devanagari script

इति सूतवचश्श्रुत्वा ऋषयो हृष्टमानसाः । अवोचन्मुनिशार्दूलं व्यासन्नत्वा मुहुर्मुहुः

Transliteration

iti sūtavacaśśrutvā ṛṣayo hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | avocanmuniśārdūlaṃ vyāsannatvā muhurmuhuḥ

Translation

Hearing thus the words of Sūta, the sages became joyful at heart. Again and again they addressed that tiger among sages, drawing near to him with reverence.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), इति-प्रयोगः (quotative particle)

• सूत-वचः: Sūta's words
• सूत-वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• हृष्ट-मानसाः: delighted at heart
• हृष्ट-मानसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (whose minds are delighted)

• अवोचन्: said/spoke
• अवोचन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• मुनि-शार्दूलम्: the tiger among sages (Vyāsa)
• मुनि-शार्दूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (mighty among sages)

• व्यासम्: Vyāsa
• व्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Depicts the ideal śravaṇa-maṇḍala (assembly of listeners): joy and reverence toward the narrator are treated as conditions for receiving purāṇic teaching as a vehicle of grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Rishis
• Muni-shardula (best of sages)

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a Shaiva means of inner purification: hearing sacred narration awakens joy and faith, moving seekers to approach the realized teacher with humility.

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

Though the verse is about listening and approaching the sage, it supports Saguna Shiva worship indirectly by establishing the proper pathway—hearing the Purana with devotion—which traditionally culminates in Linga-bhakti and disciplined practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa and satsanga: listen to Shiva-kathā attentively, then approach a competent teacher to ask dharmic questions; this can be paired with daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).