Shloka 28

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

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

Devanagari script

असंख्यातास्सहस्राणि सिद्धाः सिद्धिं गतास्ततः । सिद्धलिंगमिति ख्यातन्तस्माद्वीरेश्वरम्परम्

Transliteration

asaṃkhyātāssahasrāṇi siddhāḥ siddhiṃ gatāstataḥ | siddhaliṃgamiti khyātantasmādvīreśvaramparam

Translation

There, countless thousands of Siddhas, perfected beings, attained the supreme accomplishment. Therefore that holy emblem became renowned as the Siddha-liṅga; and for that very reason it is celebrated as the transcendent Vīreśvara.

Word by Word

• असंख्याताः: countless
• असंख्याताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘uncounted’

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सिद्धाः: Siddhas (perfected beings)
• सिद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सिद्धिम्: attainment/perfection
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गताः: having gone/attained
• गताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle) ‘गत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ततः: thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-प्रभव (ablatival adverb) ‘thereupon/from there’

• सिद्धलिङ्गम्: Siddhaliṅga (name of the liṅga)
• सिद्धलिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सिद्ध + लिङ्ग (कर्मधारयः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक निपात (quotative particle)

• ख्यातम्: was known
• ख्यातम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle) ‘ख्यात’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (was) renowned/called

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत-रूप (indeclinable in sense); मूलतः पुँ/नपुं, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘therefore/from that’

• वीरेश्वरम्: Vīreśvara
• वीरेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—वीर + ईश्वर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: At this sacred spot, innumerable siddhas attained siddhi through the Lord’s grace; hence the emblem became famed as “Siddha-liṅga,” and Śiva here is praised as Vīreśvara, the supreme Lord who empowers heroic (steadfast) devotees.

Significance: Darśana and worship are portrayed as siddhi-prada (granting spiritual accomplishment) and as strengthening vīrya—steadfastness in sādhana—culminating in Śiva’s anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that devotion to Shiva centered on the Liṅga can lead innumerable seekers to siddhi—culminating in liberation—thereby establishing the site/manifestation as a proven gateway to grace (anugraha) in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

The verse praises the Liṅga as Shiva’s accessible saguna focus for worship, through which the formless Lord grants realization; the name “Siddha-liṅga” signals the efficacy of Liṅga-upāsanā in bestowing spiritual fulfillment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Liṅga-pūjā with steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative surrender to Shiva as Pati (the liberating Lord) is implied as the practical means by which siddhi is attained.