Shloka 29

भोजन-आह्वान-प्रकरणम् — The Episode of Invitation and the Divine Feast

Devanagari script

सर्वे सुरास्समुत्तस्थुर्विष्ण्वाद्यास्सुमुदान्विताः । स्वेष्टं संस्मृत्य देवेशं सज्जिभूतास्ससंभ्रमाः

Transliteration

sarve surāssamuttasthurviṣṇvādyāssumudānvitāḥ | sveṣṭaṃ saṃsmṛtya deveśaṃ sajjibhūtāssasaṃbhramāḥ

Translation

Then all the gods—led by Viṣṇu—rose up together, filled with gladness. Remembering their own chosen Lord, Śiva, the Lord of the gods, they became prepared at once, with reverent eagerness and haste.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• सुराः: gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• समुत्तस्थुः: rose up
• समुत्तस्थुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• विष्णु-आद्याः: those headed by Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘विष्णुः आदिः येषाम्’ इति (those beginning with Viṣṇu)

• सुमुदा-अन्विताः: endowed with great joy
• सुमुदा-अन्विताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मुदा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ ‘to go’/अन्वि-इ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘अन्वित’ = endowed/possessed; ‘सुमुदया अन्विताः’

• स्व-इष्टम्: their own beloved (deity)
• स्व-इष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्ट (कृदन्त; √इष्/√यज् अर्थे ‘desired/beloved’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘स्वं च तत् इष्टम्’ (one’s own beloved/desired)

• संस्मृत्य: having remembered
• संस्मृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• देव-ईशम्: the Lord of the gods
• देव-ईशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘देवानाम् ईशः’

• सज्जि-भूताः: having become prepared
• सज्जि-भूताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्जि (प्रातिपदिक; from √सज् ‘to prepare/attach’) + भूत (कृदन्त; √भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘भूत’ = become; ‘सज्जिभूत’ = having become ready

• स-सम्भ्रमाः: with excitement/haste
• स-सम्भ्रमाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग ‘स-’ = with

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The devas’ remembrance of their iṣṭa-devatā (Śiva) and immediate readiness resembles a ‘call to darśana’ motif rather than a site legend.

Significance: Teaches iṣṭa-smaraṇa (remembrance of one’s chosen Lord) as the trigger for preparedness and receptivity to grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva as Deveśa: when the mind turns to the Lord with devotion, divine grace and inner readiness arise, moving beings from inertia to purposeful, dharmic action.

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

By calling Śiva their sveṣṭa (iṣṭa-devatā) and Deveśa, the verse affirms Saguna devotion—approaching the Supreme through a worshipable form (such as the Liṅga) that gathers the heart into reverent, focused worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice īśvara-smaraṇa: mentally recall Śiva (e.g., with the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), then become “sajjibhūta”—prepared for pūjā, japa, or quiet meditation with disciplined attention.