Shloka 23

ईश्वरागमनं हिमवदादि-समागमश्च / The Arrival of Īśvara and the Assembly of Himālaya, Devas, and Mountains

Devanagari script

स्वपुत्रान्प्रेषयामास शिवस्य निकटे तथा । हिमो विष्ण्वादिसम्पूर्णवर्गयुक्तस्य शैलराट्

Transliteration

svaputrānpreṣayāmāsa śivasya nikaṭe tathā | himo viṣṇvādisampūrṇavargayuktasya śailarāṭ

Translation

Then Himavān, the king of mountains, attended by a complete retinue that included Viṣṇu and the other gods, sent his own sons to be near Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• स्व: own
• स्व: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Possessive adjective used as prior member in compound

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• स्वपुत्रान्: his own sons
• स्वपुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; genitive-tatpurusha ‘one’s own sons’

• प्रेषयामास: sent
• प्रेषयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रेषय् (धातु √इष्/√प्रेष्, णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; causative sense ‘sent’

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• निकटे: near; in the vicinity
• निकटे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• हिमः: Himavat (the Himalaya)
• हिमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; name ‘Himavat’ (Himalaya)

• विष्णु: Viṣṇu
• विष्णु: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine stem used as prior member in compound

• आदि: and others
• आदि: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable-like nominal ‘etc.’ used as prior member in compound

• सम्पूर्ण: complete; filled
• सम्पूर्ण: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्पूर्ण (कृदन्त; √पॄ/√पॢ)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), used as prior member in compound; ‘filled/complete’

• वर्ग: group; retinue
• वर्ग: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine stem used as prior member in compound

• युक्तस्य: endowed with; accompanied by
• युक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; qualifying ‘शैलराट्/हिमः’

• विष्ण्वादिसम्पूर्णवर्गयुक्तस्य: of (him) who was accompanied by a full retinue including Viṣṇu etc.
• विष्ण्वादिसम्पूर्णवर्गयुक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + आदि + सम्पूर्ण + वर्ग + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; multi-member tatpurusha: ‘endowed with a retinue complete with Viṣṇu and others’

• शैलराट्: the mountain-king
• शैलराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैलराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; शैल + राट् ‘king of mountains’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse depicts universal deva-attendance (including Viṣṇu) around Himavān as he dispatches his sons to Śiva—an honorific courtly gesture, not a Jyotirliṅga localization.

Significance: Teaches śaraṇāgati through service: approaching Śiva via respectful proximity and attendance, recognizing Him as supreme Pati even amid the full deva-retinue.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Himavan

FAQs

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

The verse highlights sevā (devotional service) and śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): Himavān’s act of sending his sons to remain near Śiva shows that closeness to Pati (the Lord) is attained through humble offering and participation in His divine purpose, a key Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis.

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

Although the Liṅga is not named here, the theme is Saguna-Śiva worship through attendance and service—approaching Śiva as the personal Lord who receives devotion. In Purāṇic practice, such ‘being near Śiva’ is mirrored by temple worship, circumambulation, and offering at the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is niyama of upāsanā: regularly ‘stay near Śiva’ through daily Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and simple sevā like cleaning the shrine or offering water—acts that cultivate proximity in devotion.