Shloka 39

देवगुरुप्रेषणम्

Himālaya Mission of the Gods’ Preceptor / The Gods Send Their Guru

Devanagari script

पप्रच्छ कुशलं चास्य हिमाद्रिः पर्वतोत्तमः । तं द्विजेन्द्रं महाप्रीत्या सम्पूज्य विधिवन्मुने

Transliteration

papraccha kuśalaṃ cāsya himādriḥ parvatottamaḥ | taṃ dvijendraṃ mahāprītyā sampūjya vidhivanmune

Translation

Then Himādri, the best of mountains, after duly honoring that foremost brāhmaṇa with great joy, inquired about his welfare, O sage.

Word by Word

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुशलम्: welfare, well-being
• कुशलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of asking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हिमाद्रिः: Himādri (the snowy mountain)
• हिमाद्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमाद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हिमस्य अद्रिः)

• पर्वतोत्तमः: the best of mountains
• पर्वतोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः पर्वतः)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of honoring)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• द्विजेन्द्रम्: the best of Brahmins
• द्विजेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानाम् इन्द्रः)

• महाप्रीत्या: with great joy
• महाप्रीत्या: Karana (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती प्रीतिः)

• सम्पूज्य: having honored
• सम्पूज्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यबन्त/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘सम्पूज्य’ = ‘having duly worshipped/honoured’

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames dharmic hospitality (satkāra) shown by Himādri to a visiting brāhmaṇa, setting the stage for the Pārvatī-Śiva marriage narrative.

Significance: Models the Śaiva Siddhānta ethic that the bound soul (paśu) approaches Śiva through purity, right conduct, and honoring the guru/brāhmaṇa as a vessel of śiva-jñāna.

Characters & Entities

• Himādri (Himālaya)
• Dvijendra (foremost brāhmaṇa/sage)

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma as the foundation for Shiva-bhakti: honoring the worthy with proper rites and then speaking with humility and care, which purifies the heart for devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

The phrase “vidhivat sampūjya” reflects the Shiva Purana’s emphasis on orderly, reverent worship—externally in pūjā (including Liṅga-pūjā) and internally as honoring Shiva’s presence in saints and brāhmaṇas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice vidhivat pūjā and atithi-sevā: welcome the devout with respect, offer water/seat/food as appropriate, and maintain a disciplined, devotional attitude—an essential support for mantra-japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”