Shloka 10

Devanagari script

गृहाद्दूरं ततो गत्वा बाह्यतः प्रवृतस्तथा । उदण्मुखः समाविश्य प्रतिबंधेऽन्यदिण्मुखः

Transliteration

gṛhāddūraṃ tato gatvā bāhyataḥ pravṛtastathā | udaṇmukhaḥ samāviśya pratibaṃdhe'nyadiṇmukhaḥ

Translation

Then, having gone far from the house and proceeding outside, one should sit facing north; but if there is an obstruction, one may face another direction.

Word by Word

• gṛhāt: from the house
• gṛhāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• dūram: far away
• dūram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्)

• tataḥ: then/from there
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय/तद्-प्रभव)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय), 'then/from there'

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having gone'

• bāhyataḥ: outside
• bāhyataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय), ablatival sense 'outside/outwardly'

• pravṛttaḥ: engaged (in the act)
• pravṛttaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively 'engaged/occupied'

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय), 'thus/likewise'

• udan-mukhaḥ: north-facing
• udan-mukhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udan (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः: udan-diśi mukhaṃ yasya = facing north

• samāviśya: having entered/settled
• samāviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-viś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-भाव), 'having entered/sat down'

• pratibandhe: in case of obstruction/difficulty
• pratibandhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratibandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• anya-diṅ-mukhaḥ: facing another direction
• anya-diṅ-mukhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक) + diś (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः: anyasyāṃ diśi mukhaṃ yasya = facing another direction

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed observances to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: codifies spatial discipline (deśa-niyama) supporting purity and social/ritual order—important for āśrama life and for maintaining temple-town cleanliness norms.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined preparation for worship—leaving worldly bustle, choosing a pure outer place, and adopting a steady, auspicious orientation to support japa and meditation on Shiva.

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

Direction and place are part of external purity (bahya-śauca) that steadies the mind for Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-pūjā—so devotion becomes focused rather than distracted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical rule for japa/dhyāna: sit in a quiet place outside the home, preferably facing north; if that is not possible due to constraints, choose another direction without abandoning the practice.