Shloka 32

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

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

Devanagari script

पुत्रेष्टिं च चकारासौ पार्थिवो भवभक्तिमान् । ऋष्यशृङ्गमुनेराज्ञां संप्राप्य नृपसत्तमः

Transliteration

putreṣṭiṃ ca cakārāsau pārthivo bhavabhaktimān | ṛṣyaśṛṅgamunerājñāṃ saṃprāpya nṛpasattamaḥ

Translation

That best of kings, devoted to Bhava (Lord Śiva), performed the Putreṣṭi rite to obtain a son, after approaching the sage Ṛśyaśṛṅga and receiving his guidance and command.

Word by Word

• पुत्रेष्टिम्: the putreṣṭi sacrifice
• पुत्रेष्टिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रेष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; पुत्रस्य इष्टिः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चकार: performed; did
• चकार: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• असौ: that (man); he
• असौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पार्थिवः: the king
• पार्थिवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भवभक्तिमान्: devoted to Bhava (Śiva)
• भवभक्तिमान्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव + भक्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भवस्य भक्तिः यस्य सः (भव-भक्ति-मान्)

• ऋष्यशृङ्गमुनेः: of the sage Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• ऋष्यशृङ्गमुनेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋष्यशृङ्ग + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ऋष्यशृङ्गः स मुनिः इति कर्मधारयः

• आज्ञाम्: command; instruction
• आज्ञाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• संप्राप्य: having obtained
• संप्राप्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having obtained/received’

• नृपसत्तमः: the best of kings
• नृपसत्तमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नृपाणां सत्तमः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Shows integration of Vedic śrauta rite (Putreṣṭi) within a Śaiva devotional frame (‘bhavabhaktimān’): Śiva’s grace is understood as the ultimate efficacious principle behind ritual success.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rishyasringa

FAQs

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

It highlights a Shaiva ideal: worldly duties (like seeking progeny) are pursued through dharma, under a realized guru’s guidance, and with devotion to Bhava (Śiva), aligning desire with right order rather than ego.

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

By calling the king “Bhava-bhakta,” the verse frames his ritual action as rooted in Saguna Śiva-bhakti—approaching the Lord as a compassionate, accessible deity whose grace supports dharmic life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Seek scriptural rites only under competent guidance (ācārya/ṛṣi), and support ritual with Śiva-bhakti—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") as an inner offering alongside outer observance.