Shloka 4

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

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

Devanagari script

सम्वत्सरान्ते स पुनः काशीम्प्राप महामुनिः । शिवभक्तिरतो ज्ञानी पुराणार्थप्रकाशकः

Transliteration

samvatsarānte sa punaḥ kāśīmprāpa mahāmuniḥ | śivabhaktirato jñānī purāṇārthaprakāśakaḥ

Translation

ഒരു വർഷാന്ത്യത്തിൽ ആ മഹാമുനി വീണ്ടും കാശിയിലെത്തി—ശിവഭക്തിയിൽ നിരതൻ, തത്ത്വജ്ഞൻ, പുരാണാർത്ഥം പ്രകാശിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• संवत्सर-अन्ते: at the end of the year
• संवत्सर-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (संवत्सरस्य अन्ते)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• काशीम्: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• काशीम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्राप: reached
• प्राप: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् मुनिः)

• शिव-भक्ति-रतः: devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• शिव-भक्ति-रतः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवे भक्तौ रतः)

• ज्ञानी: the knower/wise one
• ज्ञानी: विशेषण/कर्ता (Appositive/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• पुराण-अर्थ-प्रकाशकः: illuminator/explainer of the Purāṇa’s meaning
• पुराण-अर्थ-प्रकाशकः: विशेषण/कर्ता (Appositive/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुराणस्य अर्थस्य प्रकाशकः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is celebrated as Śiva’s own city where liberation is granted; Viśvanātha is revered as the Lord of the universe who bestows mokṣa, especially through the saving grace associated with Kāśī.

Significance: Darśana and worship in Kāśī/Viśvanātha are traditionally linked with liberation (mokṣa) and the fruition of Śiva-bhakti and jñāna.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashi

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal of harmony between bhakti and jñāna: true wisdom culminates in devotion to Pati (Śiva), and such devotion enables one to reveal the Purāṇic teaching as a practical path toward liberation.

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

By praising one who is ‘śiva-bhakti-rata,’ the verse points to lived devotion to Saguna Śiva—commonly expressed through Liṅga worship, pilgrimage to sacred kṣetras like Kāśī, and reverent study of Śiva-centered Purāṇic meanings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implicitly supports steady Śiva-bhakti over time (a vowed practice), such as daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and kṣetra-smaraṇa/pilgrimage orientation toward Kāśī as a Śiva-kṣetra.