Shloka 36

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

कौशिकश्च समाराध्य शंकरं लोक शंकरम् । ब्राह्मणोऽभूत्क्षत्रियश्च द्वितीय इव पद्मभूः

Transliteration

kauśikaśca samārādhya śaṃkaraṃ loka śaṃkaram | brāhmaṇo'bhūtkṣatriyaśca dvitīya iva padmabhūḥ

Translation

ಕೌಶಿಕನು ಲೋಕಹಿತಕರನಾದ ಶಂಕರನನ್ನು ಯಥಾವಿಧಿಯಾಗಿ ಆರಾಧಿಸಿದನು. ಆಗ ಅವನು ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನಾಗಿಯೂ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನಾಗಿಯೂ ಆಯಿತು; ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಎರಡನೇ ಪದ್ಮಭೂ (ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ) ಎಂಬಂತೆ.

Word by Word

कौशिकःKauśika

चand

समाराध्यhaving propitiated

शंकरम्Śaṅkara

लोक-शंकरम्benefactor of the world

ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin

अभूत्became

क्षत्रियःa Kṣatriya

चand

द्वितीयःsecond

इवlike, as if

पद्मभूःPadmabhū (Brahmā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

Shiva

Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)

Brahmā (Padmabhū)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere worship of Śiva (Pati) can transform one’s inner nature and status, showing Śiva as loka-śaṃkara—the universal benefactor who grants spiritual elevation through grace responding to devotion and tapas.

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

The verse highlights propitiation of Śaṅkara in a personal, accessible way (saguṇa devotion). In Shiva Purana practice, such worship is commonly expressed through Śiva-liṅga pūjā, abhiṣeka, and mantra-japa as embodied forms of approaching the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady Śiva-upāsanā through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with disciplined vrata/tapas and simple liṅga worship (water, bilva leaves), is implied as the means of winning Śiva’s grace.