Shloka 3

Ghuśmeśa-jyotirliṅga-māhātmya

The Greatness of the Ghuśmeśa Jyotirlinga

Devanagari script

तस्यैव निकटे कश्चिद्भारद्वाजकुलोद्भवः । सुधर्मा नाम विप्रश्च न्यवसद्ब्रह्मवित्तमः

Transliteration

tasyaiva nikaṭe kaścidbhāradvājakulodbhavaḥ | sudharmā nāma vipraśca nyavasadbrahmavittamaḥ

Translation

Close by that very place there lived a Brahmin born in the lineage of Bharadvāja, named Sudharmā—an excellent knower of Brahman, firmly established in sacred wisdom.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; possession/relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• निकटे: near (in the vicinity)
• निकटे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• कश्चित्: someone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite)

• भारद्वाजकुलोद्भवः: born in the Bhāradvāja lineage
• भारद्वाजकुलोद्भवः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण; apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज + कुल + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: भारद्वाजस्य कुलस्य उद्भवः (determinative chain)

• सुधर्मा: Sudharmā
• सुधर्मा: Karta (कर्ता; subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधर्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Viśeṣaṇa-sambandha (विशेषणसम्बन्ध; naming marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नामार्थक अव्यय (particle meaning ‘by name’)

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• न्यवसत्: dwelt/lived
• न्यवसत्: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-अवस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• ब्रह्मवित्तमः: the best knower of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवित्तमः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मविद् + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: ब्रह्म वेत्ति इति ब्रह्मविद् (upapada) + तम (superlative suffix)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Sudharmā
• Bharadvāja

FAQs

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

The verse introduces Sudharmā as a brahmavit (realized knower), indicating that proximity to a sacred Shaiva locale naturally draws and supports elevated seekers—preparing the ground for Shiva’s grace and the unfolding of a Jyotirlinga-centered narrative.

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

By placing a realized Brahmin near the sacred site, the text signals that true understanding (brahmavidyā) and Saguna Shiva worship through Linga-tirthas are complementary—inner realization ripens through devotion, and devotion is guided by realized knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While no specific rite is stated, the implied takeaway is to reside near or regularly visit Shiva-kṣetras (Jyotirlinga/tirtha), maintain Brahman-centered contemplation, and support it with Shaiva sādhanā such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).