Shloka 45

तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode

Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall

Devanagari script

कियत्कालं महादेवि देवपूजनसाधने । प्रधानरूपा तुलसी भविष्यति वरेण मे

Transliteration

kiyatkālaṃ mahādevi devapūjanasādhane | pradhānarūpā tulasī bhaviṣyati vareṇa me

Translation

For what length of time, O Mahādevī, will Tulasī, by the boon granted by me, remain the foremost means for accomplishing the worship of the Devas?

Word by Word

• kiyat-kālam: for how long a time
• kiyat-kālam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiyat (सर्व/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; accusative of duration (कालावधि-द्वितीया)

• mahā-devi: O great goddess
• mahā-devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• deva-pūjana-sādhane: in the practice of deity-worship
• deva-pūjana-sādhane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjana (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; 'in the means/practice of worship of the gods'

• pradhāna-rūpā: as the principal form
• pradhāna-rūpā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of tulasī

• tulasī: Tulasī
• tulasī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• bhaviṣyati: will become
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• vareṇa: by a boon
• vareṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; 'by/through a boon'

• me: of me/to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive/Dative (6th/4th), Singular; enclitic pronoun

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse frames Tulasī as a divinely authorized upacāra for deva-pūjā by Śiva’s vara; it functions as a ritual-authorization passage rather than a Jyotirliṅga episode.

Significance: Establishes a normative ritual medium (tulasī) as a grace-bestowed aid (anugraha) for worship, implying accessibility of devotion across varṇa/āśrama through simple offerings.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Tulasi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that sincere bhakti becomes embodied in sacred offerings; Shiva’s boon makes Tulasī a leading support for deva-pūjā, showing that grace can sanctify a simple leaf into a powerful aid for worship.

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

In Saguna worship (including Liṅga-pūjā), specific pure offerings serve as tangible supports for devotion; this verse frames Tulasī as a divinely authorized, foremost offering-medium for worship performed with faith and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests devotional pūjā using sanctified offerings—especially Tulasī—performed with mantra and reverence; as a simple takeaway, offer Tulasī with focused japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī) and a pure intention.