Shloka 34

दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः

Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

हित्वा यक्षेश्वरपुरीं वनं सौगंधिकं च यत् । गच्छंतस्ते सुरा आराद्ददृशुश्शांकरं वटम्

Transliteration

hitvā yakṣeśvarapurīṃ vanaṃ saugaṃdhikaṃ ca yat | gacchaṃtaste surā ārāddadṛśuśśāṃkaraṃ vaṭam

Translation

യക്ഷേശ്വരന്റെ പുരിയും ആ സുഗന്ധിതമായ (സൗഗന്ധിക) വനവും വിട്ട് ദേവന്മാർ മുന്നോട്ട് നീങ്ങി. പോകുന്നതിനിടയിൽ സമീപത്തുതന്നെ ശങ്കരൻ (ശ്രീശിവൻ)യുടെ പാവനമായ വടവൃക്ഷം അവർ ദർശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• hitvā: having left
• hitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ktvā)

• yakṣa-īśvara-purīm: the city of the lord of Yakṣas
• yakṣa-īśvara-purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa chain 'yakṣāṇām īśvarasya purī'

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saugandhikam: fragrant / named Saugandhika
• saugandhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saugandhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying vanam

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun referring to vanam

• gacchantaḥ: going
• gacchantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Present active participle (शतृ/śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agreeing with surāḥ

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; pronoun

• surāḥ: gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ārāt: from afar / at a distance
• ārāt: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ārāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देश/कालवाचक अव्यय)

• dadṛśuḥ: saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• śāṃkaram: Śaṅkara’s / sacred to Śaṅkara
• śāṃkaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying vaṭam

• vaṭam: banyan tree
• vaṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The devas depart Kubera/Yakṣeśvara’s domain and the Saugandhika forest and approach a Śaṅkara-sambandha sacred banyan—an archetypal ‘guru-tree’ locus anticipating Śiva’s yogic revelation.

Significance: Darśana of a Śiva-sambandha sthala is portrayed as a turning from bhoga-loka to yoga-sthala—preparatory for receiving Śiva’s grace/teaching.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights “darśana” (auspicious sight) of Śiva’s sacred sign: moving from worldly locations to a Śaṅkara-associated holy spot symbolizes the soul’s approach from distraction toward Pati (Śiva), the liberator, through reverence and proximity to sanctified presence.

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the verse reflects Saguna devotion: Śiva’s presence is approached through tangible sacred supports (tree, place, shrine). In Shaiva practice, such sanctified symbols prepare the mind for Liṅga-worship and inward contemplation of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is tīrtha-smaraṇa and darśana-bhāva: approach Śiva’s sacred place with purity, offer mental salutations, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while focusing on Śaṅkara as Pati who removes bondage (pāśa).