Shloka 8

Śravaṇa–Kīrtana–Manana: Definitions and Hierarchy of Śaiva Sādhanā (श्रवणकीर्तनमनन-निरूपणम्)

Devanagari script

गच्छन्यदृछया तत्र विमानेनार्करोचिषा । सनत्कुमारो भगवान्ददर्श मम देशिकम्

Transliteration

gacchanyadṛchayā tatra vimānenārkarociṣā | sanatkumāro bhagavāndadarśa mama deśikam

Translation

Traveling there by chance in a celestial vimāna radiant with the splendor of the sun, the venerable Bhagavān Sanatkumāra beheld my spiritual preceptor.

Word by Word

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; from √गम्

• यदृच्छया: by chance
• यदृच्छया: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; adverbial-instrumental usage

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

• विमानेन: by an aerial car (vimāna)
• विमानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अर्करोचिषा: with sun-like radiance
• अर्करोचिषा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्क-रोचिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्कस्य रोचिः इव/अर्करोचिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; qualifying विमानेन

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्-कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सनत् कुमारः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• भगवान्: the venerable/lordly one
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण of सनत्कुमारः

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; pronoun

• देशिकम्: teacher/preceptor
• देशिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Guru (Deśika)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva principle that divine knowledge arises through the meeting with a true guru—often appearing as “yadṛcchā” (grace-filled seeming chance)—who guides the soul (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati) and liberation.

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

In the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā, access to proper Linga-worship, mantra, and discipline is traditionally received through a qualified teacher; this verse frames that transmission as a providential encounter that enables correct Saguna-Śiva devotion and practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Guru-sevā and receiving mantra-upadeśa are implied; practically, one should approach a competent Shaiva preceptor for initiation into Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and learn the aligned observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and japa.