Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

त्रिकालं शिवपूजां च कुर्वंति स्म निरन्तरम् । नानाविधैः स्तवैर्दिव्यैस्तुष्टुवुस्ते मुनीश्वराः

Transliteration

trikālaṃ śivapūjāṃ ca kurvaṃti sma nirantaram | nānāvidhaiḥ stavairdivyaistuṣṭuvuste munīśvarāḥ

Translation

Those lordly sages continually performed the worship of Lord Śiva at the three sacred times of the day, and with many kinds of divine hymns they praised Him again and again.

Word by Word

• tri-kālam: thrice daily/at the three times
• tri-kālam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative) — ‘at the three times’

• śiva-pūjām: worship of Śiva
• śiva-pūjām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य पूजा)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• kurvanti: they do/perform
• kurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• sma: indeed/used to
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्म-प्रयोगः (past-habitual marker with present/imperfect sense)

• nirantaram: continuously
• nirantaram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nirantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण

• nānā-vidhaiḥ: with various kinds (of)
• nānā-vidhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of stavaiḥ)

• stavaiḥ: with hymns
• stavaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• divyaiḥ: divine
• divyaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of stavaiḥ)

• tuṣṭuvuḥ: praised
• tuṣṭuvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• te: they/those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• muni-īśvarāḥ: lords among sages
• muni-īśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां ईश्वराः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The sages’ tri-kāla Śiva-pūjā and stuti establish orthodox, disciplined worship—yet the coming narrative will show that ritual excellence alone can be veiled by tirodhāna (concealment) until Śiva grants insight.

Significance: Highlights daily worship rhythm (trikāla) as a Śaiva ideal; encourages regular pūjā and stotra as bhakti-sādhana.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

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

It highlights steady, uninterrupted bhakti: worshiping Śiva at the three daily junctions trains the mind toward single-pointed devotion to Pati (the Lord), weakening pasha (bondage) through disciplined remembrance and praise.

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

Trikāla-pūjā is typically performed to Saguna Śiva—often as the Śiva-liṅga—using upacāras (offerings) and stotras; the repeated praising indicates a devotional approach where the visible form supports inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is trikāla Śiva-pūjā with stotra-japa: offer water and bilva, apply bhasma (tripuṇḍra), wear rudrākṣa if available, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with devotional hymns.