Shloka 37

Devanagari script

अथ शंम्भुर्भवाचारी प्रातःकृत्यं विधाय च । मेनामान्त्र्य कुध्रं च जनावासं जगाम सः

Transliteration

atha śaṃmbhurbhavācārī prātaḥkṛtyaṃ vidhāya ca | menāmāntrya kudhraṃ ca janāvāsaṃ jagāma saḥ

Translation

Then Śambhu, observing the conduct befitting His sacred vow, completed His morning rites; and after respectfully taking leave of Menā and also of Kudhrā, He departed for the dwelling-place of the people.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• भवाचारी: the ascetic Bhavācārī
• भवाचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव+आचारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः: भवस्य आचारी/आचारवान् (one who follows the conduct of Bhava/Śiva; ascetic)

• प्रातःकृत्यम्: morning duties
• प्रातःकृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रातः+कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः: प्रातः कृत्यम् (morning duty)

• विधाय: having done
• विधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (gerund); उपसर्ग ‘वि-’; ‘having performed/arranged’

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction ‘and’)

• मेनाम्: Menā
• मेनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम

• आमन्त्र्य: having addressed / taken leave of
• आमन्त्र्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (gerund); उपसर्ग ‘आ-’; ‘having addressed/invited/taken leave’

• कुध्रम्: Kudhra (a place)
• कुध्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (place-name)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• जनावासम्: the settlement
• जनावासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन+आवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: जनानाम् आवासः (dwelling of people)

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

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights Śiva as dharma-ācāra exemplar: even the Lord models vrata-like discipline and daily rites, legitimizing household and monastic observances for devotees.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mena
• Kudhra

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s bhavācāra—exemplary disciplined conduct—showing that even the Supreme Lord, in his saguna līlā, honors daily purity, order, and dharmic courtesy, teaching devotees steadiness in practice.

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

By depicting Śambhu performing morning observances before proceeding, the verse frames Saguna Śiva as the living model of right worshipful routine—preparing oneself through śauca and niyama before approaching sacred acts, including Liṅga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to begin the day with prātaḥkṛtya—cleanliness, remembrance of Śiva, and preparatory rites—then proceed to worship (e.g., mental japa of the Pañcākṣarī, "Om Namaḥ Śivāya," and simple pūjā with a disciplined mind).