Shloka 41

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

पूर्वाभिमुखमात्मीयतत्त्वज्ञानाभिलाषिणम् । स्वसनस्थो गुरुर्ब्रूयादमलात्मा भवेति तम्

Transliteration

pūrvābhimukhamātmīyatattvajñānābhilāṣiṇam | svasanastho gururbrūyādamalātmā bhaveti tam

Translation

पूर्वाभिमुखं तं शिष्यं तत्त्वज्ञानाभिलाषिणम् । स्वासनस्थो गुरुर्ब्रूयाद्—अमलात्मा भवेति तम् ॥

Word by Word

• पूर्व-अभिमुखम्: facing east
• पूर्व-अभिमुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (पूर्वं अभिमुखः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तम्)

• आत्मीय-तत्त्व-ज्ञान-अभिलाषिणम्: desiring knowledge of one’s own true principle (tattva)
• आत्मीय-तत्त्व-ज्ञान-अभिलाषिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मीय (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिलाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मीयस्य तत्त्वस्य ज्ञानस्य अभिलाषी), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तम्)

• स्व-आसन-स्थः: seated on his own seat
• स्व-आसन-स्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (√स्था धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य आसने स्थितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरुः: the guru
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• ब्रूयात्: should say
• ब्रूयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘should say’

• अमल-आत्मा: pure self
• अमल-आत्मा: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-सामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अमलः आत्मा), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वाक्ये विधेय (predicate nominative)

• भव: be (become)
• भव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; आदेशः (become/be)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिबोधक particle)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as the supreme Guru teaching the discipline of inner purification and tattva-jñāna)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Encapsulates Śaiva Siddhānta’s soteriology: the soul’s longing for tattva-jñāna is met by the Guru’s upadeśa, initiating inner purification (amalatva) that culminates in Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: amalātmā bhava

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Disciple

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that true Shaiva liberation begins with guru-upadeśa aimed at inner purification—becoming “amala” (stainless)—so the seeker becomes fit for tattva-jñāna and the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion are supported by disciplined instruction from the Guru; outer worship is meant to mature into inner purity, making the devotee capable of realizing Shiva’s presence beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A formal guru-led sitting: the disciple faces east, the guru sits firmly on an āsana, and gives purifying instruction—supportive practices may include japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivating purity of mind.