Shloka 26

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

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

Devanagari script

ककुत्स्थश्चापि मांधाता सगरश्शैवसत्तमः । मुचुकुन्दो हरिश्चन्द्रः कल्माषांघ्रिस्तथैव च

Transliteration

kakutsthaścāpi māṃdhātā sagaraśśaivasattamaḥ | mucukundo hariścandraḥ kalmāṣāṃghristathaiva ca

Translation

Kakutstha, and also Māndhātā; Sagara—foremost among the devotees of Śiva; Mucukunda, Hariścandra, and likewise Kalmāṣāṅghri—these kings are renowned in this sacred tradition.

Word by Word

• ककुत्स्थः: Kakutstha (a king)
• ककुत्स्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ककुत्स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि=also

• मांधाता: Māndhātā
• मांधाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांधातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सगरः: Sagara
• सगरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शैवसत्तमः: the best among Śaivas
• शैवसत्तमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘शैवानां सत्तमः’

• मुचुकुन्दः: Mucukunda
• मुचुकुन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुचुकुन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Hariścandra
• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: ‘हरिश्चन्द्रः’ (name)

• कल्माषाङ्घ्रिः: Kalmāṣāṅghri (a king)
• कल्माषाङ्घ्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्माष + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: ‘कल्माषः अङ्घ्रिः यस्य’ इति नामरूपेण

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘in the same way’

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अवधारण (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A continuation of the royal-devotee catalogue; Sagara is singled out as ‘śaiva-sattama’, but no specific liṅga-site origin is narrated here.

Significance: Highlights that exemplary kingship includes Śaiva devotion; ‘śaiva-sattama’ functions as a title of honor, motivating devotees toward steadfastness and ethical rule under Śiva’s gaze.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kakutstha
• Mandhata
• Sagara
• Mucukunda
• Harishchandra
• Kalmashanghri

FAQs

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

It honors exemplary royal devotees whose dharma and devotion illustrate that bhakti to Lord Śiva—joined with truthfulness and righteous conduct—leads to spiritual merit and divine grace.

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

By listing renowned Śaivas, the text implicitly upholds Saguna Śiva worship—devotion to the manifest Lord (often through the Liṅga) as a proven path followed by great kings and householders.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to emulate these devotees through steady Śiva-bhakti—daily remembrance and japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), ideally supported by simple Śaiva observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and disciplined vrata.