Shloka 35

पूर्वगतिवर्णनम् (Pūrvagati-varṇana) — “Description of the Prior Course / Earlier Lineage Account”

Devanagari script

यूयं पितॄणां तनयास्सर्वास्स्वर्गविलासिकाः । कर्मक्षयश्च युष्माकमभवद्विष्णुदर्शनात्

Transliteration

yūyaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tanayāssarvāssvargavilāsikāḥ | karmakṣayaśca yuṣmākamabhavadviṣṇudarśanāt

Translation

You are all daughters of the Pitṛs, heavenly maidens who delight in Svarga. By the very vision of Viṣṇu, the accumulated karma within you has been exhausted and dissolved.

Word by Word

• yūyam: you (all)
• yūyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन), Gender: common (त्रिलिङ्ग-प्रयोग)

• pitṝṇām: of (your) fathers/ancestors
• pitṝṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tanayāḥ: daughters
• tanayāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying tanayāḥ

• svarga-vilāsikāḥ: heavenly maidens/ladies of heaven
• svarga-vilāsikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + vilāsikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: svargasya vilāsikāḥ

• karma-kṣayaḥ: destruction/ending of karma
• karma-kṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: karmāṇāṃ kṣayaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• yuṣmākam: of you (all)
• yuṣmākam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• abhavat: occurred/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• viṣṇu-darśanāt: from/because of the sight of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-darśanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: viṣṇoḥ darśanam; ablative of cause (हेतु-पञ्चमी)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages; the verse itself reflects a character’s addressed speech within the narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend. The verse states that mere darśana of Viṣṇu causes karmic exhaustion for celestial maidens—an instance of ‘darśana-māhātmya’ (salvific vision).

Significance: Supports tīrtha/temple theology: seeing the deity is itself purifying; motivates darśana-yātrā and devotional attendance.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

The verse highlights karma-kṣaya (the wearing away of karmic bondage) through divine darśana—suggesting that grace can accelerate purification beyond ordinary merit, aligning with the Purāṇic theme that liberation depends on the Lord’s anugraha (favor) rather than effort alone.

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

Though Viṣṇu is named, the principle is shared in Śaiva practice: beholding the Lord in a sacred form (saguṇa)—especially Śiva as Liṅga—supports inner purification and loosens pāśa (bondage), preparing the devotee for deeper devotion and knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is darśana-centered worship: daily temple darśana of Śiva-liṅga with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a prayer for karma-kṣaya; optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Śaiva disciplines.