Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

शैलाह्वानमथाकर्ण्य स प्रभुस्साच्युतो मुने । सर्वैस्सुरादिभिस्तत्र भोजनाय ययौ मुदा

Transliteration

śailāhvānamathākarṇya sa prabhussācyuto mune | sarvaissurādibhistatra bhojanāya yayau mudā

Translation

O sage, hearing the summons of Śaila (Himālaya), the mighty Lord Acyuta (Viṣṇu) went there in joy, accompanied by all the gods and other celestial beings, to partake of the feast.

Word by Word

• शैलाह्वानम्: the invitation/call from the mountain (Himālaya)
• शैलाह्वानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल-आह्वान (प्रातिपदिक; शैल + आह्वान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शैलस्य आह्वानम्)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having heard’

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

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (the infallible one)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सुरादिभिः: with the gods and others
• सुरादिभिः: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; सुर + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुराः आदयः येषां ते) / ‘suras and others’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• भोजनाय: for a meal/for eating
• भोजनाय: Sampradana/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of eating/meal)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Himavan (Himalaya)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights how divine events unfold through orderly, dharmic gatherings—where even great deities respond joyfully to auspicious calls connected with Śiva’s larger līlā surrounding Pārvatī and Himālaya.

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

Though the verse describes an invitation to a feast, it supports the Purāṇic setting in which Saguna manifestations and sacred occasions prepare the ground for Śiva-related rites, vows, and revelations that culminate in devotion to Śiva’s tangible forms such as the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is the spirit of śraddhā and auspicious participation: attend sacred occasions with purity and joy, and accompany them with Śiva-smaraṇa—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") before meals or gatherings.