Shloka 27

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

Sūta’s Return to Kāśī and the Observances of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

एकदा तु समास्तीर्य चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् । आसनम्परमन्तस्मिन्स्थित्वा रुद्धेन्द्रियो मुनि

Transliteration

ekadā tu samāstīrya cailājinakuśottaram | āsanamparamantasminsthitvā ruddhendriyo muni

Translation

ഒരു പ്രാവശ്യം വസ്ത്രം, മൃഗചർമ്മം, കുശപുല്ല്‍ എന്നിവ മുകളിലാക്കി ഉത്തമാസനം വിരിച്ച്, മുനി അതിൽ ദൃഢമായി ഇരുന്ന് ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളെ സംയമിപ്പിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे “but/indeed”

• सम्-आस्तीर्य: having spread
• सम्-आस्तीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्तॄ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—ल्यप् (absolutive/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष), “having spread/laid out”

• चैल-अजिन-कुश-उत्तरम्: with cloth, deerskin, and kuśa-grass as the upper layer
• चैल-अजिन-कुश-उत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/object—qualifier of āsanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चैल (प्रातिपदिक) + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक) + कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (उत्तरं यस्य—‘having as upper layer’)

• आसनम्: a seat
• आसनम्: Karma (कर्म/object—of samāstīrya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme/excellent
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अन्तस्मिन्: on that (seat)
• अन्तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम—अस्मिन् (locative)

• स्थित्वा: having sat
• स्थित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (absolutive), “having sat/stood”

• रुद्ध-इन्द्रियः: one whose senses are restrained
• रुद्ध-इन्द्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier of muni)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुध् (धातु) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP) ‘रुद्ध’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य इन्द्रियाणि रुद्धानि सः

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva yogic foundation of sādhanā: establishing a pure, stable seat and restraining the senses so awareness can turn inward toward Pati (Śiva), loosening the bonds (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu).

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

Sense-restraint and a sanctified āsana prepare the mind for Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—such as dhyāna of the Liṅga—so devotion becomes steady rather than scattered, allowing worship to mature into inward communion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean meditation seat (traditionally cloth–deerskin–kuśa), sit steadily, and practice indriya-nigraha (sense-control) as a prerequisite for japa and dhyāna—commonly with the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” where applicable.