Shloka 17

Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ

Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वा किन्नराद्याश्चोपसुराश्शिवपूजकाः । तथाऽसुरा महात्मानश्शिवपूजाकरा मताः

Transliteration

gandharvā kinnarādyāścopasurāśśivapūjakāḥ | tathā'surā mahātmānaśśivapūjākarā matāḥ

Translation

Gandharvas, Kinnaras and the other celestial beings, as well as the Upasuras, are worshippers of Śiva. Likewise, even the Asuras—when they become great-souled—are regarded as performers of Śiva’s worship.

Word by Word

• gandharvāḥ: Gandharvas
• gandharvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• kinnara-ādyāḥ: Kinnaras and others
• kinnara-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kinnara (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ādi-śabdaḥ ‘and the like’

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

• upasurāḥ: Upasuras (a class of beings)
• upasurāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upasura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• śiva-pūjakāḥ: worshippers of Śiva
• śiva-pūjakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• asurāḥ: Asuras
• asurāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• mahā-ātmānaḥ: great-souled ones
• mahā-ātmānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya (mahātmānaḥ = ‘great-souled ones’)

• śiva-pūjā-karāḥ: performers of Śiva-worship
• śiva-pūjā-karāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa (śiva-pūjāṃ kurvanti iti)

• matāḥ: are considered
• matāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √man (मन्, धातु) → mata (कृदन्त, past passive participle)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta-pratyaya (PPP), ‘considered/held as’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Gandharvas
• Kinnaras
• Upasuras
• Asuras

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-bhakti is universal and transformative: regardless of birth or realm, those who turn toward Śiva with a purified mind are counted among the noble and become fit for grace and liberation.

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

By affirming that many classes of beings worship Śiva, the verse supports the Purāṇic emphasis on accessible Saguna worship—especially Śiva-pūjā through the Liṅga—through which devotion matures toward the highest realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady Śiva-pūjā and bhakti—daily remembrance with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Liṅga-offerings—since sincere worship is praised as purifying for all.