Shloka 36

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

कौशिकश्च समाराध्य शंकरं लोक शंकरम् । ब्राह्मणोऽभूत्क्षत्रियश्च द्वितीय इव पद्मभूः

Transliteration

kauśikaśca samārādhya śaṃkaraṃ loka śaṃkaram | brāhmaṇo'bhūtkṣatriyaśca dvitīya iva padmabhūḥ

Translation

Kauśika, having duly propitiated Śaṅkara—the benefactor of the worlds—became both a brāhmaṇa and a kṣatriya, resplendent like a second Padmabhū (Brahmā).

Word by Word

• कौशिकः: Kauśika
• कौशिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• समाराध्य: having propitiated
• समाराध्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having propitiated/worshipped)

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• लोक-शंकरम्: benefactor of the world
• लोक-शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य शंकरः)

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• क्षत्रियः: a Kṣatriya
• क्षत्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• द्वितीयः: second
• द्वितीयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• इव: like, as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• पद्मभूः: Padmabhū (Brahmā)
• पद्मभूः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भू (भू धातु; क्विप्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (padmaṃ bhavati/यस्य पद्मात् भूतिः—epithet of Brahmā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a direct jyotirliṅga episode; the verse uses Viśvāmitra/Kauśika as an illustration that Śiva’s grace can elevate and reconfigure social-spiritual status through tapas and devotion.

Significance: General teaching: Śiva-ārādhana grants adhikāra (fitness) for higher dharma and spiritual authority.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)
• Brahmā (Padmabhū)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere worship of Śiva (Pati) can transform one’s inner nature and status, showing Śiva as loka-śaṃkara—the universal benefactor who grants spiritual elevation through grace responding to devotion and tapas.

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

The verse highlights propitiation of Śaṅkara in a personal, accessible way (saguṇa devotion). In Shiva Purana practice, such worship is commonly expressed through Śiva-liṅga pūjā, abhiṣeka, and mantra-japa as embodied forms of approaching the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady Śiva-upāsanā through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with disciplined vrata/tapas and simple liṅga worship (water, bilva leaves), is implied as the means of winning Śiva’s grace.