Shloka 38

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

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

Devanagari script

आकर्णायतनेत्रञ्च सुरक्तदशनच्छदम् । चारुपिंगजटामौलि न्नग्नप्रहसिताननम्

Transliteration

ākarṇāyatanetrañca suraktadaśanacchadam | cārupiṃgajaṭāmauli nnagnaprahasitānanam

Translation

His eyes were stretched wide to the ears; his lips and teeth shone a vivid red. With a beautiful tawny crown of matted locks, his face—bare and unobstructed—glittered with a broad, radiant smile.

Word by Word

• ākarṇa-āyata-netram: having eyes elongated up to the ears
• ākarṇa-āyata-netram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyata (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

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

• su-rakta-daśana-chadam: with very red covering of the teeth (lips)
• su-rakta-daśana-chadam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + daśana (प्रातिपदिक) + chada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• cāru-piṅga-jaṭā-mauli: with a beautiful tawny matted-hair crown
• cāru-piṅga-jaṭā-mauli: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक) + piṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + mauli (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (as epithet used for the described deity); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• nagna-prahasita-ānanam: with a naked, broadly smiling face
• nagna-prahasita-ānanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nagna (प्रातिपदिक) + prahasita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse invites dhyāna on Shiva’s saguna (manifest) form—terrible yet auspicious—showing that the Supreme Pati can be approached through a vivid, personal vision that steadies the mind and ripens bhakti toward liberation.

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

While the Linga points to Shiva’s nirguna depth, this description supports saguna upāsanā—meditating on his divine features—so the devotee can concentrate with love and awe, ultimately realizing the same Supreme reality the Linga signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use this verse for rūpa-dhyāna (form-meditation) during japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), optionally with Tripuṇḍra bhasma and rudrākṣa, visualizing Shiva’s smiling, radiant countenance as the mind’s support.