Shloka 30

Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)

Devanagari script

अशोककाननं यत्र तिष्ठति स्वर्ग उत्तमः । तत्र तस्थौ स्वयं स्नात्वा नत्वा च गुरुमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

aśokakānanaṃ yatra tiṣṭhati svarga uttamaḥ | tatra tasthau svayaṃ snātvā natvā ca gurumuttamam

Translation

Where the Aśoka grove stands—like an excellent heaven—there he remained. Having bathed there himself, he bowed to the supreme Guru and stayed on.

Word by Word

• अशोक-काननम्: Aśoka-grove
• अशोक-काननम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative locative adverb: where)

• तिष्ठति: stands / is situated
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वर्गः: heaven
• स्वर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमः: excellent
• उत्तमः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• तस्थौ: stood / remained
• तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक (himself)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), 'having bathed'

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), 'having bowed'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘aśoka-kānana’ as ‘uttama-svarga’ signals a sanctified grove typical of kṣetra-topography where the Guru/Īśvara is approached after purification by snāna.

Significance: Grove-temples and tīrtha-bathing precede darśana of the Guru/Śiva; emphasizes purity (śauca) and humility (namaskāra) as gateways to instruction.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

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

It presents a Shaiva pattern of sādhana: purification (snāna), humility (namaskāra), and steady abiding in a sacred space—signs of readiness for Shiva’s grace and inner freedom from sorrow (aśoka).

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

Bathing at a tīrtha and bowing to the supreme Guru are preparatory acts that support disciplined Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the Linga with purity, reverence, and right orientation to the teaching lineage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snana (ritual bathing) followed by guru-pranāma; in Shaiva practice this pairs well with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and calm, steady dwelling in a sanctified place.