Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

स्वयं जगाम सद्भक्त्या प्राणेप्सुन्द्रष्टुऽमीश्वरम् । भक्त्युद्रुतमनाश्शैलः प्रशंसन् स्वविधिम्मुदा

Transliteration

svayaṃ jagāma sadbhaktyā prāṇepsundraṣṭu'mīśvaram | bhaktyudrutamanāśśailaḥ praśaṃsan svavidhimmudā

Translation

Moved by pure devotion, Śaila went himself, eager to behold the Lord even at the cost of his life. His heart melted through bhakti, and as he went he joyfully praised his own destiny and providence.

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (by oneself)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सद्-भक्त्या: with true devotion
• सद्-भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (‘सद्भक्तिः’ = true devotion); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; instrumental

• प्राणेप्सु: desiring life (eagerly)
• प्राणेप्सु: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + ईप्सु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘प्राणान् ईप्सुः’ = desiring life); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies subject

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; purpose

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उद्रुत-मनाः: whose mind was overflowing (with devotion)
• उद्रुत-मनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + द्रु (धातु) (कृदन्त ‘उद्रुत’) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘उद्रुतं मनः यस्य’ = whose mind is stirred/overflowing); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with ‘शैलः’

• शैलः: the mountain (Himālaya)
• शैलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; here = हिमालयः

• प्रशंसन्: praising
• प्रशंसन्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘praising’

• स्व-विधिम्: his own destiny/ordinance
• स्व-विधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘स्वस्य विधिः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A bhakti-centered approach scene: Himālaya goes personally to behold Īśvara, heart ‘melted’ by devotion—an archetype of the paśu turning toward Pati for liberating grace.

Significance: Teaches that true darśana is sought with sadbhakti and self-surrender (even ‘at the cost of life’), which in Siddhānta aligns with ripening of mala-kṣaya and receptivity to anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere bhakti makes the devotee value Śiva-darśana above all else; when the heart softens through devotion, divine grace and auspicious destiny unfold naturally.

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

The verse emphasizes darśana of Īśvara—approaching the Lord in a knowable, gracious (saguṇa) manner, as in Liṅga-worship, where devotion and reverent approach are central to receiving Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady bhakti-sādhana—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a darśana-oriented mindset, supported by simple Śiva-pūjā (e.g., bilva offering and reverence).