Shloka 3

Kedāreśvara-pratiṣṭhā: Nara-Nārāyaṇa’s Worship and Śiva’s Abiding as Jyoti

Devanagari script

एवं पूजयतोश्शंभुं तयोर्विष्ण्ववतारयोः । चिरकालो व्यतीताय शैवयोर्धर्मपुत्रयोः

Transliteration

evaṃ pūjayatośśaṃbhuṃ tayorviṣṇvavatārayoḥ | cirakālo vyatītāya śaivayordharmaputrayoḥ

Translation

Thus, as those two incarnations of Viṣṇu continued to worship Śambhu (Lord Śiva), a long time passed for those two righteous sons of dharma, devoted to Śiva.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• पूजयतोः: (they) worship
• पूजयतोः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (dual); वर्तमानकालिक क्रिया

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), द्विवचन (dual)

• विष्णु-अवतारयोः: of the two incarnations of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-अवतारयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): विष्णोः अवतारौ; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), द्विवचन (dual)

• चिर-कालः: a long time
• चिर-कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: चिरः कालः; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• व्यतीतः: elapsed / passed
• व्यतीतः: Kriyā (क्रियासमान/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अति + इ (धातु) → व्यतीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘elapsed/has passed’

• शैवयोः: of the two Śaivas (devotees of Śiva)
• शैवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), द्विवचन (dual)

• धर्म-पुत्रयोः: of the two sons of Dharma
• धर्म-पुत्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: धर्मस्य पुत्रौ; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), द्विवचन (dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The narrative stresses prolonged tapas and pūjā by Nara–Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu-avatāras) as Śiva-bhaktas; the ‘long time’ motif frames the maturation of adhikāra before revelation/boon.

Significance: Models perseverance in sādhana: sustained worship over time purifies the paśu (bound soul) and prepares for Śiva’s response.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Shambhu

FAQs

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

It highlights steadfast, time-enduring bhakti: even exalted beings continue sustained worship of Śambhu, showing that grace and spiritual fruition arise through perseverance and devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By describing continuous worship of Śambhu, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Śiva through worshipful form (commonly the Liṅga in Kotirudra contexts), where repeated pūjā matures devotion and draws Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular, long-term pūjā with mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—performed steadily over time, ideally supported by Śiva-markers like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa.