Shloka 17

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

तथोपवेष्टितस्तिष्ठेन्मंडपे समलंकृते । गुर्वासनवरे शुद्धे चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरे

Transliteration

tathopaveṣṭitastiṣṭhenmaṃḍape samalaṃkṛte | gurvāsanavare śuddhe cailājinakuśottare

Translation

Demikianlah, setelah duduk dengan sempurna, hendaklah ia tetap berada di dalam maṇḍapa yang dihias indah, di atas tempat duduk guru yang suci dan utama, beralaskan kain, kulit rusa, dan rumput kuśa yang sakral—menyiapkan tubuh dan minda untuk pemujaan Śiva yang berdisiplin.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• उपवेष्टितः: wrapped/covered (appropriately)
• उपवेष्टितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवेष्टित (कृदन्त, √वेष्ट्) उपसर्ग-उप + क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् — ‘having been wrapped/covered’

• तिष्ठेत्: should stand/remain
• तिष्ठेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मण्डपे: in the pavilion
• मण्डपे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• समलङ्कृते: well-adorned
• समलङ्कृते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त, √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — ‘well-decorated’ (agreeing with मण्डपे)

• गुरु-आसन-वरे: on the excellent seat of the guru
• गुरु-आसन-वरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः आसनम्) + ‘वर’ (श्रेष्ठ) — ‘on the excellent guru-seat’

• शुद्धे: pure
• शुद्धे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (agreeing with आसन-वरे)

• चैल-अजिन-कुश-उत्तरे: with cloth, deer-skin, and kuśa grass on top
• चैल-अजिन-कुश-उत्तरे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चैल (प्रातिपदिक) + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक) + कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चैलम्/अजिनम्/कुशाः उत्तरं यस्मिन्) — ‘having cloth, skin, and kuśa on top’ (agreeing with आसन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the sanctified maṇḍapa and āsana as the microcosmic ‘field’ where the bound soul (paśu) becomes fit for communion with Pati through disciplined worship; steadiness (sthāna) supports contemplative absorption.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purity and orderly preparation—right seat, sanctified space, and steady posture—support inner steadiness (yoga) and focused devotion to Pati (Śiva), loosening the bonds of pāśa through disciplined worship.

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

A well-prepared maṇḍapa and a pure āsana are classical prerequisites for Linga-pūjā and mantra-japa; the verse emphasizes the proper devotional setting for approaching Saguna Śiva with reverence and concentration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sit steadily on a purified āsana layered with cloth, deer-skin, and kuśa grass in a decorated mandapa, then proceed to Shiva worship practices such as pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dhyāna, and pūjā.