Shloka 85

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

अग्निपूजापरा नित्यं गुरुपूजारतास्तथा । ब्राह्मणानां तृप्तिकराः सर्वे स्वर्गस्य भागिनः

Transliteration

agnipūjāparā nityaṃ gurupūjāratāstathā | brāhmaṇānāṃ tṛptikarāḥ sarve svargasya bhāginaḥ

Translation

Those who are ever devoted to the worship of the sacred fire, who likewise delight in honoring the Guru, and who bring satisfaction to the brāhmaṇas—all such people become rightful sharers of heaven’s merit.

Word by Word

• agni-pūjā-parāḥ: devoted to Agni-worship
• agni-pūjā-parāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni + pūjā + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: अग्नि(षष्ठी) + पूजा + पर ‘devoted to worship of Agni’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla (काल/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (नित्यं), used as indeclinable-like ‘always’

• guru-pūjā-ratāḥ: engaged in guru-worship
• guru-pūjā-ratāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru + pūjā + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); compound गुरु(षष्ठी) + पूजा + रत ‘engaged in worship of the guru’

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/also-thus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (तथा), indeclinable (अव्यय)

• brāhmaṇānām: of the Brahmins
• brāhmaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/with next noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tṛpti-karāḥ: causing satisfaction
• tṛpti-karāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛpti + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); compound तृप्ति + कर (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) ‘causing satisfaction’

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/subject—‘all’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• svargasya: of heaven
• svargasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessed domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhāginaḥ: sharers/partakers
• bhāginaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया—nominal predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Guru
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It affirms that disciplined sacred practice—honoring Agni (ritual purity), revering the Guru (right knowledge), and satisfying brāhmaṇas (supporting dharma)—creates powerful puṇya that elevates the soul’s journey; in a Shaiva frame, such purity and right guidance prepare one for steadfast devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is upheld by proper dharmic foundations: purity through prescribed rites (Agni), correct transmission through the Guru, and honoring those who preserve Vedic and Shaiva disciplines; these supports stabilize Saguna-upāsanā and deepen bhakti toward Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily worship with purity (Agni-related duties according to one’s āśrama), perform Guru-pūjā and follow the Guru’s mantra-dīkṣā and disciplines; express dharmic charity/feeding to worthy brāhmaṇas—alongside regular Shiva-pūjā such as Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) where applicable.