Shloka 41

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

पूर्वाभिमुखमात्मीयतत्त्वज्ञानाभिलाषिणम् । स्वसनस्थो गुरुर्ब्रूयादमलात्मा भवेति तम्

Transliteration

pūrvābhimukhamātmīyatattvajñānābhilāṣiṇam | svasanastho gururbrūyādamalātmā bhaveti tam

Translation

Having the disciple face east, and seeing him eager for knowledge of the true principle of the Self, the Guru—seated steadily on his own seat—should instruct him: “Become of stainless soul, pure in essence.”

Word by Word

• पूर्व-अभिमुखम्: facing east
• पूर्व-अभिमुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (पूर्वं अभिमुखः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तम्)

• आत्मीय-तत्त्व-ज्ञान-अभिलाषिणम्: desiring knowledge of one’s own true principle (tattva)
• आत्मीय-तत्त्व-ज्ञान-अभिलाषिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मीय (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिलाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मीयस्य तत्त्वस्य ज्ञानस्य अभिलाषी), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तम्)

• स्व-आसन-स्थः: seated on his own seat
• स्व-आसन-स्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (√स्था धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य आसने स्थितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरुः: the guru
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• ब्रूयात्: should say
• ब्रूयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘should say’

• अमल-आत्मा: pure self
• अमल-आत्मा: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-सामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अमलः आत्मा), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वाक्ये विधेय (predicate nominative)

• भव: be (become)
• भव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; आदेशः (become/be)

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

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as the supreme Guru teaching the discipline of inner purification and tattva-jñāna)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Encapsulates Śaiva Siddhānta’s soteriology: the soul’s longing for tattva-jñāna is met by the Guru’s upadeśa, initiating inner purification (amalatva) that culminates in Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: amalātmā bhava

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Disciple

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that true Shaiva liberation begins with guru-upadeśa aimed at inner purification—becoming “amala” (stainless)—so the seeker becomes fit for tattva-jñāna and the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion are supported by disciplined instruction from the Guru; outer worship is meant to mature into inner purity, making the devotee capable of realizing Shiva’s presence beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A formal guru-led sitting: the disciple faces east, the guru sits firmly on an āsana, and gives purifying instruction—supportive practices may include japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivating purity of mind.