Shloka 24

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire

Devanagari script

लोकार्कमुखसूर्यांश्च प्रणम्य स पुनःपुनः । कृत्वा च पिण्डदानानि सर्वतीर्थेष्वतन्द्रितः

Transliteration

lokārkamukhasūryāṃśca praṇamya sa punaḥpunaḥ | kṛtvā ca piṇḍadānāni sarvatīrtheṣvatandritaḥ

Translation

ಅವನು ಲೋಕಗಳ ಮುಖಸ್ವರೂಪನಾದ ಸೂರ್ಯನಿಗೆ ಪುನಃಪುನಃ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸಿ, ಅಲಸ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲದೆ, ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತೀರ್ಥಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪಿಂಡದಾನಗಳನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಿದನು।

Word by Word

• लोक-अर्क-मुख-सूर्यान्: those headed by the world and the sun
• लोक-अर्क-मुख-सूर्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समाहार-तत्पुरुष/निर्देश-समासभावे ‘those headed by (mukha) the world and the sun’ (interpretive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed to
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having bowed’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पुनः: again and again
• पुनः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having done’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पिण्डदानानि: offerings of rice-balls (piṇḍa-gifts)
• पिण्डदानानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (piṇḍasya dānāni)

• सर्वतीर्थेषु: in all sacred places
• सर्वतीर्थेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (sarvāṇi tīrthāni)

• अतन्द्रितः: untiring
• अतन्द्रितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + तन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासभावे ‘not lazy’ विशेषण (of ‘सः’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not Jyotirliṅga-specific; emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and pitṛ-kārya (piṇḍadāna) alongside reverence to Sūrya as lokamukha.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage as both deva-ṛṇa (reverence to cosmic order via Sūrya) and pitṛ-ṛṇa (ancestral offerings), purifying the aspirant for Śiva-sādhana.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights disciplined sacred observance—reverence to the cosmic order (Sūrya as witness) and conscientious piṇḍa-dāna at tīrthas—showing that sincere, tireless dharma supports inner purification and prepares the devotee for Shiva’s grace.

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

Though Sūrya is explicitly saluted, the act functions within a Shaiva frame where all luminous powers are understood as operating under Pati (Shiva). Such tīrtha-based rites and reverence harmonize the devotee’s life, making Linga-worship fruitful through purity, humility, and steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests repeated namaskāra (bowing with remembrance) and piṇḍa-dāna at sacred places, performed attentively and without laziness—ideally accompanied by mental japa of Shiva’s name (e.g., the Panchākṣarī) to keep the rite inwardly devotional.