Shloka 37

गिरिराजस्य शिवनिमन्त्रणम् / The Mountain-King Invites Śiva

Hospitality to Śiva and the Devas

Devanagari script

इत्युक्ता शिवसद्यात्रा देवैस्सह मुनीश्वर । आकर्णय शिवयात्रां विरहोत्सवसंयुताम्

Transliteration

ityuktā śivasadyātrā devaissaha munīśvara | ākarṇaya śivayātrāṃ virahotsavasaṃyutām

Translation

O best of sages, thus was the sacred and auspicious pilgrimage of Śiva described, together with the gods. Now listen to the account of Śiva’s pilgrimage—joined with the celebration of separation—through which devotion ripens in longing for the Lord.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-बोधक अव्यय (thus)

• उक्ता: called / spoken of
• उक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शिवसद्यात्रा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (having been said/called)

• शिवसद्यात्रा: Śiva’s immediate journey
• शिवसद्यात्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + सद्यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवस्य सद्यात्रा’ = Śiva’s immediate journey)

• देवैः: with the gods
• देवैः: Saha (सह/साकम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-प्रयोगे अव्यय (with)

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• आकर्णय: listen, hear
• आकर्णय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्णय्/कर्णय (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शिवयात्राम्: Śiva’s journey
• शिवयात्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवस्य यात्रा’ = Śiva’s journey)

• विरहोत्सवसंयुताम्: accompanied by the ‘separation-festival’
• विरहोत्सवसंयुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरह + उत्सव + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘विरह-उत्सवेन संयुता’ = accompanied by the festival of separation) ‘शिवयात्राम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘viraha-utsava’ framing interprets the yātrā as a devotional pedagogy: separation intensifies longing and thereby prepares the soul for Śiva’s gracious self-manifestation.

Significance: Establishes viraha-bhakti as a sādhana: longing born of distance becomes a means to pierce māyā’s concealment (tirodhāna) and invite anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It marks a transition into the narration of Śiva’s yātrā and highlights viraha (loving separation) as a purifier of devotion—turning the mind steadily toward Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord.

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

By inviting attentive hearing of Śiva’s līlā and yātrā, it supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with attributes—where listening and remembrance naturally culminate in Linga-worship as the stable focus of presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa (devotional listening) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva’s acts are implied; practically, one may pair this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating the heart’s longing as an offering.