Shloka 50

Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ

Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship

Devanagari script

प्रद्युम्नः तत्सुतस्तात शिवपूजाकरस्सदा । अन्ये च कार्ष्णिप्रवरास्साम्बाद्याश्शिवपूजकाः

Transliteration

pradyumnaḥ tatsutastāta śivapūjākarassadā | anye ca kārṣṇipravarāssāmbādyāśśivapūjakāḥ

Translation

Ô bien-aimé, Pradyumna et son fils étaient sans cesse absorbés dans l’adoration du Seigneur Śiva. De même, les plus éminents héros de la lignée des Kārṣṇi—à commencer par Sāmba—étaient eux aussi des adorateurs dévoués de Śiva.

Word by Word

• प्रद्युम्नः: Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्: of him/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-विशेषण (of him/that)

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तात: O dear one/father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• शिवपूजाकरः: one who performs Shiva-worship
• शिवपूजाकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-पूजा-कर (प्रातिपदिक); शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य पूजा) + उपपद-समास (पूजां करोति)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कार्ष्णिप्रवराः: the foremost among the Kārṣṇis
• कार्ष्णिप्रवराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्ष्णि-प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक); कार्ष्णि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कार्ष्णीनां प्रवराः)

• साम्बाद्याः: those beginning with Sāmba
• साम्बाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम्ब-आद्य (प्रातिपदिक); साम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (साम्बः आदिः येषाम्)

• शिवपूजकाः: worshippers of Shiva
• शिवपूजकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-पूजक (प्रातिपदिक); शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य पूजकाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Genealogical praise of Śiva-bhakti among Kṛṣṇa’s lineage (Kārṣṇis/Yādavas), presenting Śiva as Paśupati who draws diverse heroes into devotion.

Significance: Encourages householders and rulers alike to adopt regular Śiva-pūjā; devotion is portrayed as a family dharma transmitted across generations.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pradyumna
• Samba
• Kārṣṇi (Yadava lineage)

FAQs

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

It highlights that steadfast Śiva-bhakti is universal and honored even among illustrious royal lineages; constant worship of Pati (Śiva) purifies the soul (paśu) and supports liberation through grace.

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

By emphasizing daily “Śiva-pūjā,” the verse points to practical Saguna worship—commonly performed through Śiva-liṅga pūjā—affirming that devotion expressed in ritual reverence is a valid Shaiva path.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is regular Śiva-pūjā: offering water, bilva leaves, and repetition of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a steady devotional attitude.