Shloka 33

Devanagari script

ततो विष्ण्वादिकान्देवान्गणांश्चान्यानपि ध्रुवम् । शिवानुगान्समानर्च शिवतोषणहेतवे

Transliteration

tato viṣṇvādikāndevāngaṇāṃścānyānapi dhruvam | śivānugānsamānarca śivatoṣaṇahetave

Translation

Thereafter, with steadfast resolve, he duly worshipped Viṣṇu and the other gods, along with the various attendant hosts; and he likewise honoured the followers of Śiva, solely to please Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• viṣṇu-ādikān: (those) beginning with Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-ādikān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) — ‘viṣṇu-ādi’ = beginning with Viṣṇu

• devān: gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• gaṇān: groups/hosts
• gaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• anyān: other
• anyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle) — समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत-नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial use)

• śiva-anugān: followers of Śiva
• śiva-anugān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + anuga (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘śivasya anugāḥ’ (followers of Śiva)

• samānarca: worshipped duly
• samānarca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√arc (अर्च्) (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/लङ्-सम्भाव्य; रूपम्: सम् + आनर्च (आङ्-लिट्/लङ्-प्रयोगभेद-सम्भावना); परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थतः: ‘सम्यक् अर्चयामास/अर्चयत्’ (worshipped)

• śiva-toṣaṇa-hetave: for the sake of pleasing Śiva
• śiva-toṣaṇa-hetave: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + toṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; ‘śivasya toṣaṇasya hetuḥ’ = for the purpose/cause of pleasing Śiva

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Devas
• Shivaganas

FAQs

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

It teaches that pleasing Śiva is achieved through sincere, steady bhakti expressed as reverence to the divine order—honouring the devas and especially Śiva’s own attendants—showing humility and harmony rather than sectarian rivalry.

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā: practical devotion that pleases Śiva through concrete acts of worship and respect to His retinue (Śivagaṇas). Such service-oriented worship aligns with Linga-bhakti, where honouring Śiva’s devotees and attendants is treated as honouring Śiva Himself.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is to include respectful offerings and service to Śiva’s devotees/temples (gaṇa-sevā), alongside regular Śiva-pūjā; mentally dedicate all acts as śiva-toṣaṇa (for Śiva’s pleasure), optionally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").