Shloka 5

Ghuśmeśa-jyotirliṅga-māhātmya

The Greatness of the Ghuśmeśa Jyotirlinga

Devanagari script

सुधर्मा च द्विजश्रेष्ठो देवतातिथिपूजकः । वेदमार्गपरो नित्यमग्नि सेवापरायणः

Transliteration

sudharmā ca dvijaśreṣṭho devatātithipūjakaḥ | vedamārgaparo nityamagni sevāparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

And Sudharmā, the foremost among the twice-born, worshipped the deities and honored guests. Ever devoted to the Vedic path, he was constantly dedicated to the service of the sacred fire.

Word by Word

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

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

• द्विजश्रेष्ठः: the best of the twice-born
• द्विजश्रेष्ठः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: द्विजानां श्रेष्ठः (best of brāhmaṇas)

• देवताऽतिथिपूजकः: one who honors deities and guests
• देवताऽतिथिपूजकः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + अतिथि + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: देवताः च अतिथयः च (dvandva) तेषां पूजकः (worshipper/honorer)

• वेदमार्गपरः: devoted to the Vedic path
• वेदमार्गपरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदमार्ग + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: वेदानां मार्गः (Vedic path) तस्मिन् परः (devoted)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण; frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक एकवचनम् (adverbial accusative)

• अग्निसेवापरायणः: wholly devoted to serving the sacred fire
• अग्निसेवापरायणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + सेवा + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समास: अग्नेः सेवा (service to fire/Agni) तस्याम् परायणः (wholly devoted)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It presents Sudharmā as an exemplar of dharma: reverence to devas, service to guests, and steady adherence to Vedic discipline—qualities that purify the mind and make one fit for Śiva-bhakti and grace.

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

In the Shiva Purana, outer disciplines like Agni-sevā and atithi-pūjā support inner purity; such purity stabilizes devotion so that Linga-worship (Saguna Śiva upāsanā) becomes focused and fruitful, culminating in Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to regular sacred-fire observances (Agnihotra/Agni-sevā) and the vow of honoring guests; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair this discipline with daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and pure conduct.