Shloka 7

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

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

Devanagari script

अग्निशुश्रूषणरतः पञ्चयज्ञपरायणः । षट्कर्मनिरतो नित्यं देवपित्रतिथिप्रियः

Transliteration

agniśuśrūṣaṇarataḥ pañcayajñaparāyaṇaḥ | ṣaṭkarmanirato nityaṃ devapitratithipriyaḥ

Translation

അവൻ അഗ്നിശുശ്രൂഷയിൽ രതനായി, പഞ്ചമഹായജ്ഞങ്ങളിൽ പരായണനായി, നിത്യം ഷട്കർമങ്ങളിൽ നിരതനായി, ദേവന്മാർക്കും പിതൃകൾക്കും അതിഥികൾക്കും പ്രിയങ്കരനായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अग्नि-शुश्रूषण-रतः: devoted to serving the sacred fire
• अग्नि-शुश्रूषण-रतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अग्निशुश्रूषणेषु रतः)

• पञ्च-यज्ञ-परायणः: wholly devoted to the five sacrifices
• पञ्च-यज्ञ-परायणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पञ्चयज्ञेषु परायणः)

• षट्-कर्म-निरतः: engaged in the six duties/rites
• षट्-कर्म-निरतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षट्कर्मसु निरतः)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• देव-पितृ-अतिथि-प्रियः: dear to gods, ancestors, and guests
• देव-पितृ-अतिथि-प्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (देवपितृअतिथीनां प्रियः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises disciplined, dharmic living—service to Agni, pañca-yajña, and constant right action—which purifies karma and steadies the mind, making one fit for Shiva-bhakti and grace (anugraha) in a Shaiva Siddhanta sense.

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

By honoring gods, ancestors, and guests through prescribed duties, the devotee sanctifies household life and offerings; this supports Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-puja) because ritual purity, gratitude, and service are treated as limbs of devotion to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular tending of sacred fire and daily pañca-yajña (worship/offerings, study, ancestor remembrance, hospitality, and care toward beings), carried out with a Shiva-oriented intention—ideally accompanied by japa of Om Namaḥ Śivāya where appropriate.