Shloka 51

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

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

Devanagari script

बाल उवाच । विश्वानर मुनिश्रेष्ठ भूदेवाहं त्वयाद्य वै । तोषितस्सुप्रसन्नात्मा वृणीष्व वरमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

bāla uvāca | viśvānara muniśreṣṭha bhūdevāhaṃ tvayādya vai | toṣitassuprasannātmā vṛṇīṣva varamuttamam

Translation

Bāla said: “O Viśvānara, best of sages! Today indeed I am a Bhūdeva for you. Pleased, with a wholly gracious heart, I am satisfied—choose the highest boon.”

Word by Word

• बालः: the boy (Bāla)
• बालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विश्वानर: O Viśvānara
• विश्वानर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (munīnām śreṣṭhaḥ)

• भूदेव: O god on earth (brāhmaṇa)
• भूदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (bhūḥ eva devaḥ)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• तोषितः: pleased/satisfied
• तोषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सन्तुष्टः’

• सुप्रसन्नात्मा: one whose mind is very serene
• सुप्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (yasya ātmā suprasannaḥ saḥ)

• वृणीष्व: choose (for yourself)
• वृणीष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: best/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘वरम्’)

Speaker

Bāla

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva principle of anugraha (divine grace): when the Lord is truly pleased, He freely offers the “supreme boon,” implying upliftment from bondage (pāśa) toward liberation (mokṣa).

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

The verse reflects Saguna Shiva’s compassionate accessibility—He responds to sincere tapas and devotion by granting boons, the same dynamic celebrated in Linga-worship where the devotee seeks the Lord’s grace and protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While not naming a specific rite, the implied practice is devoted propitiation—steady japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), worship with purity, and disciplined tapas that culminate in the Lord’s satisfaction and blessing.