Shloka 16

Ghuśmeśa-jyotirliṅga-māhātmya

The Greatness of the Ghuśmeśa Jyotirlinga

Devanagari script

कदाचिच्च सुदेहा वै गेहे च सहवासिनः । जगाम प्रियगोष्ठ्यर्थं विवादस्तत्र संगतः

Transliteration

kadācicca sudehā vai gehe ca sahavāsinaḥ | jagāma priyagoṣṭhyarthaṃ vivādastatra saṃgataḥ

Translation

Once, Sudehā, together with those dwelling in the same house, went out for a pleasant gathering; yet there a dispute arose.

Word by Word

• kadācit: once, at some time
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sudehā: Sudehā (a woman named)
• sudehā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudehā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• gehe: in the house
• gehe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• saha-vāsinaḥ: co-dwellers, those living together
• saha-vāsinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saha (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सह वसन्ति इति)

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• priya-goṣṭhi-artham: for the sake of a pleasant gathering/conversation
• priya-goṣṭhi-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + goṣṭhī (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रियायाः गोष्ठ्याः अर्थम्)

• vivādaḥ: a quarrel, dispute
• vivādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• saṃgataḥ: arisen, occurred, come together
• saṃgataḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + gam (धातु) → saṃgata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (vivādaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Sudehā

FAQs

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

The verse marks a karmic turning point: an outwardly “pleasant gathering” becomes the seed of conflict, showing how worldly sociality can quickly entangle the jīva in pasha (bondage). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such moments urge discrimination (viveka) and a return to Shiva-oriented conduct to prevent further binding karma.

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

Though the verse itself is narrative, it sets the stage for why devotees seek Saguna Shiva—especially Jyotirlinga worship—as refuge and purification when worldly disputes arise. Turning to the Linga symbolizes re-centering life on Pati (Shiva), the Lord who loosens pasha through devotion and right action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pacify agitation through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivating śānti before speech or judgment; if following Purana practice, one may also adopt Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders to restrain anger and remain Shiva-minded.