Shloka 28

Ghuśmeśa-jyotirliṅga-māhātmya

The Greatness of the Ghuśmeśa Jyotirlinga

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा च तया तत्र नमस्कृत्य शिवं तदा । नत्वा चाग्निं पुनः प्रार्थ्य गृहीतं पुष्पमेककम्

Transliteration

ityuktvā ca tayā tatra namaskṛtya śivaṃ tadā | natvā cāgniṃ punaḥ prārthya gṛhītaṃ puṣpamekakam

Translation

Having spoken thus, she there bowed in reverence to Lord Śiva. Then, after bowing to the sacred fire and praying once more, she took up a single flower.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having said'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• tayā: by her
• tayā: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in gerund constructions)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'by her'

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• namaskṛtya: having bowed
• namaskṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas-kṛ (धातु; नामधातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having saluted'

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• natvā: having bowed
• natvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having bowed'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• agnim: Agni (fire-god)
• agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक)

• prārthya: having prayed/requested
• prārthya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-arth (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having requested/prayed'

• gṛhītam: was taken
• gṛhītam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used predicatively = 'was taken'

• puṣpam: flower
• puṣpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; object of 'taken'

• ekakam: single/one
• ekakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; agrees with puṣpam

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the basic upacāra of Śiva-bhakti—namaskāra and offering (even a single flower) as sufficient when done with śraddhā; emphasizes inner surrender over material abundance.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva-worship begins with humility (namaskāra) and prayerful intent; even a single flower, offered with surrendered devotion, becomes spiritually complete and purifying in the Śaiva path.

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

The act of bowing to Śiva and making a simple offering reflects Saguna upāsanā—approaching the manifest Lord through respectful ritual, which in Śaiva Siddhānta supports inner refinement and leads the devotee toward Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform namaskāra to Śiva, honor the sacred fire as a purifier/witness, pray for right intention, and then offer even one flower with focused mind—paired with japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” for steadiness of devotion.