Shloka 22

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire

Devanagari script

नत्वा विनायकान्सर्वान्गौरीं शर्वां प्रणम्य च । सम्पूज्य कालराजञ्च भैरवम्पापभक्षणम्

Transliteration

natvā vināyakānsarvāngaurīṃ śarvāṃ praṇamya ca | sampūjya kālarājañca bhairavampāpabhakṣaṇam

Translation

Having bowed to all the Vināyakas, and having also saluted Gaurī and Śarva (Śiva), he duly worshipped Kālarāja—the Lord of Time and Death—and Bhairava, the devourer of sins.

Word by Word

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: नम्; ‘having bowed’

• विनायकान्: the Vināyakas (Gaṇeśas)
• विनायकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Acc Pl)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Acc Pl); विशेषण (विनायकान्)

• गौरीम्: Gaurī
• गौरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc Sg)

• शर्वाम्: Śarvā (a name of the Goddess)
• शर्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc Sg)

• प्रणम्य: having saluted
• प्रणम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (absolutive), अव्ययभावः; धातु: प्र√नम्; ‘having saluted’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सम्पूज्य: having fully worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/absolutive, अव्ययभावः; धातु: सम्√पूज्; ‘having duly worshipped’

• कालराजम्: Kālarāja (King of Time/Death)
• कालराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कालस्य राजा); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc Sg)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भैरवम्: Bhairava
• भैरवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc Sg)

• पाप-भक्षणम्: the devourer of sins
• पाप-भक्षणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पापस्य भक्षणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc Sg); विशेषण (भैरवम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Within the Kāśī kṣetra, the pilgrim honors the protective and gatekeeping deities—Vināyakas, Gaurī, Śarva, and especially Bhairava—reflecting Kāśī’s tradition where Kālabhairava is kṣetrapāla and remover of pāpa, supporting Viśveśvara worship.

Significance: Worship of Vināyaka and Bhairava removes obstacles and sins, stabilizing the pilgrim’s adhikāra for Viśveśvara-darśana and deeper sādhana; Bhairava functions as pāpa-kṣapaka and kṣetra-rakṣaka.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Vinayaka (Ganesha)
• Gauri (Parvati)
• Sharva (Shiva)
• Kalaraja (Lord of Time/Death)
• Bhairava

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva order of reverence: begin by honoring Vināyaka (obstacle-removal), then the Divine Couple (Śiva–Śakti), and finally contemplate Bhairava who consumes sin and fear—showing that grace comes through proper devotion and humility.

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

The verse reflects Saguna-upāsanā (worship of Shiva with form): approaching Śiva through his household and manifestations—Gaurī, Vināyaka, and Bhairava—prepares the mind for focused Linga worship and for receiving Shiva’s purifying power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform worship in a traditional sequence: invoke Gaṇeśa first, then offer reverence to Śiva and Pārvatī, and conclude with Bhairava remembrance for purification—optionally accompanied by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a sin-destroying, mind-stabilizing practice.