Shloka 1

Vyāsa-pūjana-prakāra

Procedure for Worship of Vyāsa / the Ācārya

Devanagari script

शौनक उवाच । आचार्य्यपूजनं ब्रूहि सूत व्यासगुरोऽधुना । ग्रन्थस्य श्रवणान्ते हि किं कर्तव्यं तदप्यहो

Transliteration

śaunaka uvāca | ācāryyapūjanaṃ brūhi sūta vyāsaguro'dhunā | granthasya śravaṇānte hi kiṃ kartavyaṃ tadapyaho

Translation

Śaunaka said: “O Sūta, now tell us of the proper worship of the ācārya—the teacher in the lineage of Vyāsa. And when the hearing of this sacred text is concluded, what should be done thereafter? Please explain that as well.”

Word by Word

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आचार्य-पूजनम्: worship of the teacher
• आचार्य-पूजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आचार्यस्य पूजनम्)

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सूत: O Sūta
• सूत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• व्यास-गुरो: O teacher of Vyāsa
• व्यास-गुरो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (व्यासस्य गुरुः)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: now)

• ग्रन्थस्य: of the text
• ग्रन्थस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रन्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• श्रवण-अन्ते: at the end of listening
• श्रवण-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (श्रवणस्य अन्तः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be done'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• अहो: oh!/indeed!
• अहो: Exclamation (उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मयादि-उद्गार (interjection)

Speaker

Śaunaka (speaking to Sūta Gosvāmin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames guru-sevā as an essential completion of śāstra-śravaṇa; in pilgrimage praxis, parallels the custom of honoring temple-ācāryas after kathā/pārāyaṇa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Sūta
• Vyāsa

FAQs

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

It places the guru (ācārya) at the center of spiritual transmission: the fruit of śāstra-śravaṇa is stabilized through humility, gratitude, and proper honouring of the teacher, aligning devotion with disciplined practice.

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

In Shaiva tradition, worship of Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship) is learned and authorized through the guru’s instruction; this verse asks for the correct protocol so devotion remains scripturally grounded and spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse explicitly points to ācārya-pūjā and asks about concluding observances after hearing the text—typically including respectful offerings to the teacher, prayers for completion, and acts of devotion such as mantra-japa or Śiva-pūjā as instructed.