Shloka 58

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

इत्थमग्न्यवतारस्ते वर्णितो मे जनार्दनः । नाम्ना गृहपतिस्तात शंकरस्य परात्मनः

Transliteration

itthamagnyavatāraste varṇito me janārdanaḥ | nāmnā gṛhapatistāta śaṃkarasya parātmanaḥ

Translation

Thus, O Janārdana, I have described to you Śaṅkara’s incarnation as Fire. Dear one, that Supreme Self—Śaṅkara—was known by the name Gṛhapati.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Prakaraṇa (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (‘thus/in this manner’)

• अग्न्यवतारः: the incarnation of Agni
• अग्न्यवतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि-अवतार (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि+अवतार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः अवतारः)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to you/of you’ (contextually: ‘to you’)

• वर्णितः: has been described
• वर्णितः: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्णित (कृदन्त; √वर्ण् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (described); कर्मणि भावः

• मे: by me
• मे: Karta (कर्ता; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘by me/of me’ (agent in passive)

• जनार्दनः: O Janārdana
• जनार्दनः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रथमा (addressing)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘by name/as (the) name’

• गृहपतिः: Gṛhapati (lord of the house)
• गृहपतिः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहपति (प्रातिपदिक; गृह+पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गृहस्य पतिः)

• तात: O dear one / O son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परात्मनः: Sambandha-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (सम्बन्धान्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; पर+आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (परः आत्मा)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Identifies Śiva’s agni-avatāra with the epithet Gṛhapati (lord of the household fire), linking domestic/ritual fire to Śaṅkara’s supreme identity.

Significance: Encourages seeing Śiva as immanent in Vedic fire and daily gṛhya rites, integrating household dharma with Śaiva devotion.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse affirms that Shiva, the Parātman (Supreme Self), freely assumes saguna forms—here as Agni—so devotees can recognize, remember, and worship Him, turning worldly life toward liberation.

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

By naming Shiva’s manifestation (Gṛhapati) and identifying Him as the Supreme Self, the text supports saguna-upāsanā: worshipping Shiva through accessible forms (including the Linga) while understanding His transcendence beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as the indwelling divine presence in sacred fire and daily duties, and pair this remembrance with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") as a steady devotional discipline.