Shloka 4

Devanagari script

तेषां गतिविशेषञ्च भगवञ्छंकरात्मज । वक्तुमर्हसि सुप्रीत्या मां विचार्य्य स्वशिष्यतः

Transliteration

teṣāṃ gativiśeṣañca bhagavañchaṃkarātmaja | vaktumarhasi suprītyā māṃ vicāryya svaśiṣyataḥ

Translation

O venerable son of Bhagavān Śaṅkara, with gracious affection, consider me as your own disciple and deign to explain to me their distinct destinations—their states of attainment.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napुंसakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Bahuvacana (pl)

• gati-viśeṣam: the particular mode/goal (special detail of their course)
• gati-viśeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana; समासः—तत्पुरुष (gater viśeṣaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya—conjunction

• bhagavan: O Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Voc, 8th), Ekavacana

• śaṅkara-ātmaja: O son of Śaṅkara
• śaṅkara-ātmaja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śaṅkarasya ātmajaḥ)

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Kridanta—Tumun (infinitive)

• arhasi: you are worthy/should
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह्)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• su-prītyā: with great affection
• su-prītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Ekavacana; adverbial instrument ‘with great affection’

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana

• vicārya: having considered
• vicārya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√car (चर्)
• Form: Kridanta—Ktvā (absolutive/gerund)

• sva-śiṣyataḥ: as (your) own disciple/from your disciple
• sva-śiṣyataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + -tas (तसिल्)
• Form: Tasil-avyaya (ablative adverb) ‘from (the standpoint of) one’s own disciple’; internal tatpuruṣa sva-śiṣya

Speaker

A disciple-devotee addressing Shankara’s son (likely Skanda/Kartikeya) within the Kailasa Samhita dialogue frame

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

It models the Shaiva Siddhanta approach of humility and discipleship—recognizing that higher truths about different spiritual attainments (gati) are received through the grace-filled instruction of a realized teacher connected to Śiva.

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

By addressing Śiva’s son as a revered guide, the verse reflects devotion to Saguna Śiva’s divine family and lineage of teaching; such devotion supports disciplined worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) that leads to distinct spiritual outcomes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is guru-sevā and śravaṇa (listening) with devotion; practically, this aligns with daily Śiva-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) done under guidance to understand and attain the proper gati.