Shloka 35

गोत्र-प्रवर-प्रश्नः तथा तिथ्यादि-कीर्तनं

Gotra–Pravara Inquiry and Proclamation of Auspicious Time

Devanagari script

अथ ते पर्वतश्रेष्ठा मेर्वाद्या जातसंभ्रमाः । ऊचुस्ते चैकपद्येन हिमवन्तं नगेश्वरम्

Transliteration

atha te parvataśreṣṭhā mervādyā jātasaṃbhramāḥ | ūcuste caikapadyena himavantaṃ nageśvaram

Translation

Then those foremost of mountains—beginning with Meru—were stirred with awe and urgency. In one voice they addressed Himavān, the lord of mountains.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequence marker: 'then')

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• parvata-śreṣṭhāḥ: the best of mountains
• parvata-śreṣṭhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('best among mountains'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• meru-ādyāḥ: beginning with Meru
• meru-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ādi in sense 'beginning with'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to पर्वतश्रेष्ठाः

• jāta-saṃbhramāḥ: having become excited
• jāta-saṃbhramāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु) + jāta (कृदन्त) + saṃbhrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि ('those in whom excitement has arisen'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to ते

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (reiterative subject)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• eka-padyena: in a single verse
• eka-padyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + padya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ('with one verse/one line'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (padya), तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/रीति

• himavantam: Himavān (Himalaya)
• himavantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• naga-īśvaram: the lord of mountains
• naga-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('lord of mountains'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to हिमवन्तम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Himavān (Himalaya)

FAQs

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

The verse shows how even the mightiest powers of nature (the great mountains) respond with reverent awe when a divine turning-point approaches—hinting that all of creation becomes attentive when Śiva’s śakti and destiny begin to unfold.

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the narrative mood—collective awe and unified speech—supports Saguna devotion: devotees and even cosmic beings gather, align their intent, and approach the divine order that ultimately culminates in Śiva-centered worship and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ekāgratā (one-pointedness) and saṅkalpa in worship—praying “in one voice,” i.e., steady japa (especially Pañcākṣarī: Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with unified mind, optionally supported by bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa for Shaiva discipline.