Shloka 40

गृहस्थ-जीवनसंस्काराः तथा पुत्रजन्म-शुभलक्षणवर्णनम् / Household Saṃskāras and the Auspicious Portents of a Son’s Birth

Devanagari script

ततः सर्वं च तद्भाग्यं पुत्रधर्मं च सम्मुखे । वैश्वानरं समवदत्स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम्

Transliteration

tataḥ sarvaṃ ca tadbhāgyaṃ putradharmaṃ ca sammukhe | vaiśvānaraṃ samavadatsmṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Translation

Then, remembering the lotus-feet of Lord Śiva, he spoke in their very presence of everything—his own good fortune and the righteous duties of a son—and he duly addressed Vaiśvānara as well.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): 'then/thereupon'

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of 'said/told' (understood)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tat-bhāgyam: his good fortune
• tat-bhāgyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'his fortune'

• putra-dharmam: a son's duty
• putra-dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'duty of a son'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• sammukhe: in (his) presence
• sammukhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sammukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative used adverbially (सप्तमी-अव्ययवत्): 'in presence/before (him)'

• vaiśvānaram: Vaiśvānara
• vaiśvānaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśvānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; addressee/object of speech

• samavadat: spoke (to)
• samavadat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√vad (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada; 'spoke/told'

• smṛtvā: having remembered
• smṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त): 'having remembered'

• śiva-pada-ambujam: the lotus of Śiva's feet
• śiva-pada-ambujam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'lotus (ambuja) of Śiva's feet (pada)'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse highlights smaraṇa of Śiva’s lotus-feet as the enabling cause for right speech and dharma-instruction.

Significance: General: pāda-smaraṇa is presented as a purifier of speech and intention, leading to dharmic counsel and auspicious outcomes.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śiva-pada-ambujam (pāda-smaraṇa motif; not a full mantra citation)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vaishvanara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet) as the inner anchor that purifies speech and action, so that worldly duties like putra-dharma are performed as offerings aligned to Pati (Śiva) rather than mere social obligation.

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

Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet points to Saguna-bhakti—devotional contemplation of the Lord’s compassionate presence—commonly expressed through Liṅga worship, where outer ritual is strengthened by inner recollection (smṛti) and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin any duty with Śiva-smaraṇa—mentally bowing to Śiva’s feet and reciting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—so actions and words arise from devotion and dharma.