Shloka 36

Śiva-Pūjākramaḥ — The Procedural Order of Shiva Worship

Pañcāvaraṇa & Upacāras

Devanagari script

श्रीसूत उवाच । एवम्मुनीश्वरायैतदुपदिश्य सुरेश्वरः । संस्मृत्य चरणाम्भोजे पित्रो स्सर्व्वसुरार्चिते

Transliteration

śrīsūta uvāca | evammunīśvarāyaitadupadiśya sureśvaraḥ | saṃsmṛtya caraṇāmbhoje pitro ssarvvasurārcite

Translation

Śrī Sūta said: Thus, having instructed the lordly sage in this manner, the Lord of the Devas then remembered (bowed within his mind to) the lotus-feet of his two fathers—feet that are worshipped by all the gods.

Word by Word

• śrī-sūtaḥ: the venerable Sūta
• śrī-sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: श्रीमान् सूतः

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय)

• munīśvarāya: to the lord of sages
• munīśvarāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: munīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी 4), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मुनीनां ईश्वरः

• etat: this (teaching)
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया 2), Singular (एकवचन)

• upadiśya: having instructed
• upadiśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√diś दिश् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्)

• sureśvaraḥ: the lord of gods
• sureśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sureśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सुराणां ईश्वरः

• saṃsmṛtya: having remembered
• saṃsmṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√smṛ स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्)

• caraṇa-ambhoje: in/at the lotus-feet
• caraṇa-ambhoje: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhoja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी 7), Dual (द्विवचन); तत्पुरुष: चरणयोः अम्भोजे (lotus-feet)

• pitroḥ: of (his) two fathers/parents
• pitroḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी 6), Dual (द्विवचन)

• sarva-sura-arcite: worshipped by all the gods
• sarva-sura-arcite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + sura (प्रातिपदिक) + arcita (कृदन्त; √arc अर्च्)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी 7), Dual (द्विवचन); तत्पुरुष: सर्वैः सुरैः अर्चिते; past passive participle (क्त) agreeing with caraṇa-ambhoje

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as narrative transition emphasizing reverence to the ‘lotus-feet’ as the locus of grace.

Significance: General tīrtha-logic: remembrance of the Lord’s feet (caraṇasmaraṇa) is presented as a grace-bearing act leading toward liberation.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Sureśvara (Indra)
• Pitṛs (two fathers/forefathers)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva virtue of humility after imparting knowledge: even a divine ruler, after giving instruction, turns inward to remembrance and reverence—showing that true authority is grounded in devotion and gratitude to one’s sources (elders/forefathers).

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

While the verse does not name the Liṅga directly, its devotional act—mental prostration and remembrance—reflects the inner attitude required in Saguna worship: instruction (upadeśa) must culminate in bhakti, reverence, and surrender, which are central to Liṅga-upāsanā in the Shiva Purana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is smaraṇa (devout recollection): after japa or study, mentally bow at the ‘lotus-feet’ of the revered (guru, elders, and Pitṛs), cultivating gratitude and steadiness—supportive of Shaiva discipline alongside mantra and worship.