Shloka 58

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

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

Devanagari script

अभिलाषाष्टकं पुण्यं स्तोत्रमेतत्त्वयेरितम् । अब्दत्रिकालपठनात्कामदं शिवसन्निधौ

Transliteration

abhilāṣāṣṭakaṃ puṇyaṃ stotrametattvayeritam | abdatrikālapaṭhanātkāmadaṃ śivasannidhau

Translation

This holy and meritorious hymn, the ‘Abhilāṣāṣṭaka’, has been proclaimed by you. If it is recited at the three times of day for a full year, then in the very presence and grace of Lord Śiva it becomes a bestower of the desired aims.

Word by Word

• abhilāṣa-aṣṭakam: the Abhilāṣāṣṭaka (eightfold hymn of wishes)
• abhilāṣa-aṣṭakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhilāṣa + aṣṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘octet (set of eight) of wishes’

• puṇyam: meritorious/holy
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• stotram: hymn
• stotram: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम (2nd person pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• īritam: uttered
• īritam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘uttered/declared’

• abda-tri-kāla-paṭhanāt: from (the practice of) reciting thrice daily for a year
• abda-tri-kāla-paṭhanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abda + tri + kāla + paṭhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—‘(for) a year, three times a day: recitation’ → ‘from/through the recitation (done) thrice daily for a year’

• kāmadam: wish-granting
• kāmadam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• śiva-sannidhau: in Śiva’s presence
• śiva-sannidhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + sannidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular); ‘in the presence of Śiva’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes Śiva-sannidhi (felt presence) through disciplined daily recitation; frames stotra-japa as a direct means to receive īśvara-anugraha (grace) and iṣṭa-siddhi.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: अभिलाषाष्टकं पुण्यं स्तोत्रमेतत्त्वयेरितम् । अब्दत्रिकालपठनात्कामदं शिवसन्निधौ

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches niyama (disciplined observance): sustained, thrice-daily recitation for a year purifies intention and makes one fit for Śiva’s anugraha (grace), through which rightful desires are fulfilled.

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

The promise is tied to “Śiva-sannidhi” (Śiva’s presence), implying devotional worship before the Liṅga/Saguna Śiva where stotra-recitation becomes an act of upāsanā that draws the devotee into closeness with the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Recite the hymn three times daily (dawn, midday, dusk) for one year, ideally in a clean worship space before Śiva (Liṅga), with a steady mind and devotional intent.