Shloka 26

Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding

Devanagari script

विरुद्ध्यैवं शिवं देवं कुशलं कस्समीहते । मध्याह्नसमये यो वै नातिथिं च परामृशेत्

Transliteration

viruddhyaivaṃ śivaṃ devaṃ kuśalaṃ kassamīhate | madhyāhnasamaye yo vai nātithiṃ ca parāmṛśet

Translation

Who, having thus acted in opposition to Lord Śiva, the Divine, can truly hope for well-being? Indeed, one who at midday does not duly honour and receive a guest incurs blame.

Word by Word

• विरुद्ध्य: having opposed
• विरुद्ध्य: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verb; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) रूप; ‘having opposed/acting contrary’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thus/in this way)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; शिवस्य विशेषणरूपेण अपि

• कुशलम्: welfare
• कुशलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘कुशलं’ = welfare/prosperity

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• समीहते: desires/strives for
• समीहते: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+ईह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मध्याह्न-समये: at midday time
• मध्याह्न-समये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्न (प्रातिपदिक) + समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मध्याह्नस्य समयः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis: indeed)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अतिथिम्: a guest
• अतिथिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• परामृशेत्: should honor/attend to
• परामृशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परा+मृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘should attend to/should honor’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse links auspiciousness (kuśala) with alignment to Śiva and dharma: opposing Śiva and neglecting righteous conduct—like honouring guests—undermines spiritual welfare and blocks grace.

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

In Saguna Śiva worship, devotion is not isolated from conduct; reverence to Śiva is expressed through dharmic living. Atithi-sevā is treated as a practical extension of Śiva-bhakti, supporting purity and receptivity to Śiva’s blessings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is atithi-sevā at midday—receiving a guest with respect, offering water/food, and maintaining a dharmic routine—performed as an offering to Śiva alongside regular pūjā, mantra-japa, and other Shaiva observances.