Shloka 4

गोत्र-प्रवर-प्रश्नः तथा तिथ्यादि-कीर्तनं

Gotra–Pravara Inquiry and Proclamation of Auspicious Time

Devanagari script

ततो हिमाद्रिणा प्रोक्ता द्विजास्तिथ्यादिकीर्तने । प्रयोगो भण्यतां तावदस्मिन्समय आगते

Transliteration

tato himādriṇā proktā dvijāstithyādikīrtane | prayogo bhaṇyatāṃ tāvadasminsamaya āgate

Translation

Then Himālaya spoke, extolling the honoring of a brāhmaṇa guest and the duties connected with it: “Now that this occasion has arrived, let the proper procedure for it be set forth.”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• himādriṇā: by Himādri (Himalaya)
• himādriṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himādri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: hima+adri (तत्पुरुष)

• proktāḥ: were spoken/told
• proktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dvijāḥ: the Brahmins (twice-born)
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tithy-ādi-kīrtane: in the recitation of tithi etc.
• tithy-ādi-kīrtane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tithi+ādi+kīrtana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समास: tithi+ādi (तत्पुरुष) + kīrtana (तत्पुरुष)

• prayogaḥ: the procedure/application
• prayogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaṇyatām: let it be stated
• bhaṇyatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaṇ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāvat: so long/for now
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/adverb (निपात/क्रियाविशेषण)

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• samaye: at the time/occasion
• samaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• āgate: when (it) had arrived
• āgate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+gam (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (कृत्: क्तवत्/क्त; here kta used adjectivally), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) agreeing with samaye

Speaker

Himālaya (Himādri), speaking in the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narrative

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Himālaya

FAQs

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

The verse frames atithi-sevā (reverent hospitality) as a dharmic foundation that purifies the mind; in a Shaiva Siddhānta lens, such purification prepares the soul (paśu) to receive Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha) through right conduct and devotion.

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

By introducing “prayoga” (proper procedure), it links outer worship to inner discipline: honoring worthy guests—especially brāhmaṇas connected with mantra and ritual—supports orderly Saguna Shiva worship, making one’s offerings and observances fit to be dedicated to the Liṅga with purity and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It directly suggests following a defined prayoga (step-by-step observance) for hospitality and allied rites; the practical takeaway is disciplined atithi-sevā as a supportive sādhana alongside Shaiva practices like mantra-japa and pūjā.