Shloka 9

Devanagari script

नारद त्वं विशेषेण शिवपूजनकारकः । सप्तर्षयो वसिष्ठाद्याः शिवपूजनकारकाः

Transliteration

nārada tvaṃ viśeṣeṇa śivapūjanakārakaḥ | saptarṣayo vasiṣṭhādyāḥ śivapūjanakārakāḥ

Translation

“O Nārada, you are pre-eminently one who inspires and performs the worship of Śiva. The Seven Sages too—Vasiṣṭha and the others—are likewise devoted promoters and performers of Śiva’s worship.”

Word by Word

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचन-रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial instrumental): ‘especially’

• शिव-पूजन-कारकः: a performer of Śiva-worship
• शिव-पूजन-कारकः: Predicate nominative (विधेय-प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासार्थ

• सप्त-ऋषयः: the seven sages
• सप्त-ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या/अव्ययवत्) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘सप्त ऋषयः’ (the seven sages)

• वसिष्ठ-आद्याः: beginning with Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठ-आद्याः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘वसिष्ठः आदिः येषाम्’—आद्य-प्रयोग (beginning with Vasiṣṭha)

• शिव-पूजन-कारकाः: performers of Śiva-worship
• शिव-पूजन-कारकाः: Predicate nominative (विधेय-प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Brahma (narrating to Narada)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights Nārada and the Saptarṣis as paradigms of transmitting Śiva-bhakti; pilgrimage value is ‘saṅga’—seeking the company/lineage of Śiva-devotees to receive śiva-anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Shiva
• Saptarishis
• Vasistha

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Śiva-pūjā as a time-honored, rishi-sanctioned path: Nārada and the Saptarṣis are presented as exemplars whose devotion (bhakti) and worship align the soul (paśu) toward Śiva, the Supreme Lord (Pati), and thus support liberation-oriented living.

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

By praising great devotees as ‘Śiva-pūjanakārakas,’ the text reinforces Saguna worship—commonly expressed through Liṅga-pūjā—as a legitimate and powerful means to approach the transcendent Śiva, with the Liṅga serving as the accessible focus for reverence, mantra, and offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is consistent, reverent Śiva-pūjā—especially Liṅga worship—supported by japa of Śiva’s names (notably the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a disciplined devotional attitude modeled after Nārada and the sages.