Shloka 27

वराङ्ग्याः सुतजन्म-उत्पातवर्णनम् | Birth of Varāṅgī’s Son and the Description of Portents

Utpātas

Devanagari script

शतवर्षं तु वृक्षस्य शाखामालब्य वै मुने । पादाभ्यां शुचिधूमं हि पिबंश्चाधोमुखस्तथा

Transliteration

śatavarṣaṃ tu vṛkṣasya śākhāmālabya vai mune | pādābhyāṃ śucidhūmaṃ hi pibaṃścādhomukhastathā

Translation

“O sage, for a hundred years, clinging to the branch of a tree, he remained inverted, drinking only pure smoke through his feet.”

Word by Word

• śata-varṣam: for a hundred years
• śata-varṣam: Karma (कर्म) / Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधसूचक (particle)

• vṛkṣasya: of a tree
• vṛkṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• śākhām: a branch
• śākhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

• ālabya: having grasped
• ālabya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√labh (लभ्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘आलभ्य’ = having grasped/held

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/उपपद (particle: indeed)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• pādābhyām: with (his) two feet
• pādābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), द्विवचन; करण

• śuci-dhūmam: pure smoke
• śuci-dhūmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuci + dhūma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (शुचिः धूमः)

• hi: indeed; for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (particle: for/indeed)

• piban: drinking
• piban: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा) (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• adho-mukhaḥ: face-down
• adho-mukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhas + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय

• tathā: thus; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the intensity of tapas (austerity) undertaken to gain spiritual power, while Shaiva teaching ultimately places higher value on Shiva-bhakti and right knowledge over mere physical extremity.

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

Such austerities are portrayed as preparatory disciplines; in Shaiva Siddhanta, their fruit becomes truly liberating when directed toward Saguna Shiva—worship of Shiva (often via the Linga) with devotion, purity, and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to ascetic yoga-tapas (inverted posture, breath/discipline symbolism). Practically, Shiva Purana emphasizes safer, sattvic alternatives—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra with bhasma, and steady meditation on Shiva.