Shloka 15

Glorification of Vārāṇasī: Kapardīśvara Liṅga and the Piśācamocana Tīrtha

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे पुरा विप्रस्तपस्वी संशितव्रतः । शंकुकर्ण इति ख्यातः पूजयामास शंकरम्

Transliteration

tasminkṣetre purā viprastapasvī saṃśitavrataḥ | śaṃkukarṇa iti khyātaḥ pūjayāmāsa śaṃkaram

Translation

Autrefois, en ce lieu sacré, vivait un ascète brāhmane, ferme dans ses vœux, renommé sous le nom de Śaṅkukarṇa ; il rendait un culte à Śaṅkara, le Seigneur Śiva.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• क्षेत्रे: in the sacred place/field
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• पुरा: formerly; once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (adverbial time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• तपस्वी: ascetic; practicing austerity
• तपस्वी: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective to विप्रः

• संशितव्रतः: of strict vows
• संशितव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशित (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'संशितं व्रतं यस्य' = 'whose vow is firm/strict'; qualifies विप्रः

• शंकुकर्णः: Śaṅkukarṇa (proper name)
• शंकुकर्णः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to विप्रः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारय: 'शंकुवत् कर्णौ यस्य/शंकु-कर्णः' (name)

• इति: thus; named as
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable quotative particle (इत्यादि-निपात)

• ख्यातः: known; famed
• ख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate of विप्रः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'known/called'

• पूजयामास: worshipped
• पूजयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्/परस्मैपद-परिप्रयोग), 3rd person, Singular; 'worshipped'

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration; specific dialogue-pair not explicit in this single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे = तस्मिन् + क्षेत्रे; विप्रस्तपस्वी = विप्रः + तपस्वी.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkukarṇa
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

FAQs

Who is Śaṅkukarṇa in this verse?

Śaṅkukarṇa is presented as a renowned brahmin ascetic (vipra tapasyī) known for strict vows, serving as the focal devotee in this episode.

What devotional practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights pūjā—formal worship—directed to Śaṅkara (Śiva), framed within an ascetic life of tapas (austerity) and disciplined vows.

What ethical or spiritual lesson does this verse convey?

It emphasizes steadiness in vows (saṃśita-vrata) and sustained devotion as a model of religious life, where disciplined conduct supports heartfelt worship.