Shloka 13

वैभ्राजवन-प्रसङ्गः / The Episode of Vaibhrāja and the Yogic Forest

Vibhrāja-vana

Devanagari script

पंचालः पुण्डरीकस्तु पुत्रौ संस्थाप्य मन्दिरे । विविशतुर्वनं तत्र गतौ परमिकां गतिम्

Transliteration

paṃcālaḥ puṇḍarīkastu putrau saṃsthāpya mandire | viviśaturvanaṃ tatra gatau paramikāṃ gatim

Translation

Pañcāla and Puṇḍarīka, having duly installed their two sons in the temple as caretakers and successors, entered the forest. There, by the grace of Lord Śiva and the ripening of their devotion, they attained the supreme state—the highest goal.

Word by Word

• पञ्चालः: Pañcāla (a person named Pañcāla)
• पञ्चालः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुण्डरीकः: Puṇḍarīka (a person named Puṇḍarīka)
• पुण्डरीकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पदार्थ-विशेषक (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• पुत्रौ: two sons
• पुत्रौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• संस्थाप्य: having installed/placed
• संस्थाप्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; उपसर्ग: सम्; अर्थ: ‘स्थापयित्वा/स्थापित्वा’ (having installed/placed)

• मन्दिरे: in the temple
• मन्दिरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विविशतुः: the two entered
• विविशतुः: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• वनम्: the forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• गतौ: having gone / gone
• गतौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; अर्थ: ‘गच्छितौ’ (having gone)

• परमिकाम्: supreme/ultimate
• परमिकाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• गतिम्: state/goal/destination
• गतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the Śaiva ideal of handing over temple-duties to successors and then pursuing vānaprastha/saṃnyāsa oriented toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha) culminating in paramagati (mokṣa).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal of completing one’s worldly responsibilities in a dharmic way and then embracing vairāgya (renunciation), culminating in the “supreme state” (paramikā gati), understood as liberation through Śiva’s grace.

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

By placing their sons in the temple, the verse implies continuity of temple-based Saguna Śiva worship (Liṅga-sevā). Their own withdrawal to the forest reflects inner worship and detachment, showing both external devotion and inward maturity leading toward mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to a life-arc: maintain regular temple worship (Liṅga-pūjā) and, at the stage of renunciation, intensify japa of Śiva-mantras (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with meditation and disciplined living.