Shloka 6

Devanagari script

दारुनामवनं श्रेष्ठं तत्रासन्नृषिसत्तमाः । शिवभक्तास्सदा नित्यं शिवध्यानपरायणाः

Transliteration

dārunāmavanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tatrāsannṛṣisattamāḥ | śivabhaktāssadā nityaṃ śivadhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

Dārunāmavana was an excellent and foremost forest. There dwelt the best of sages—devotees of Lord Śiva—ever constant, always absorbed in meditation upon Śiva.

Word by Word

• dāru-nāma: named Daru
• dāru-nāma: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāru (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दारु नाम यस्य) — ‘named Daru’, विशेषण (of vanam)

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• śreṣṭham: excellent/best
• śreṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of vanam)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ṛṣi-sattamāḥ: the best of sages
• ṛṣi-sattamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (ऋषीणां सत्तमाः)

• śiva-bhaktāḥ: devotees of Śiva
• śiva-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य भक्ताः)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• nityam: constantly
• nityam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• śiva-dhyāna-parāyaṇāḥ: devoted to meditation on Śiva
• śiva-dhyāna-parāyaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवध्यानं परायणं येषाम्/शिवध्यानपरायणाः), विशेषण (of bhaktāḥ/ṛṣayaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Dārunāmavana is praised as a foremost sacred forest where Śiva-bhaktas dwell in constant dhyāna; it functions as a mythic kṣetra where Śiva’s grace will later overturn mere ascetic self-certainty.

Significance: Models the ideal of a Śaiva community: nitya-bhakti and dhyāna as the ground for receiving Śiva’s anugraha (even when later tested).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sanctifies Dārunāmavana as a place made holy by realized sages whose constant Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-dhyāna exemplify the Shaiva path where devotion and meditation purify the soul (paśu) and orient it toward Śiva (Pati).

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

By stressing continuous meditation on Śiva, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—contemplating Śiva with attributes, often through Liṅga-worship—so the mind becomes steady and fit for Śiva’s grace, which culminates in liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is nitya Śiva-dhyāna: daily disciplined meditation on Lord Śiva, ideally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and devotional observances typical of Shaiva practice.