Shloka 39

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

शिवमभ्यर्च्य सद्भक्त्या विरंचिश्शैवसत्तमः । अभूत्सर्गकरः कृष्ण सर्वलोकपितामहः

Transliteration

śivamabhyarcya sadbhaktyā viraṃciśśaivasattamaḥ | abhūtsargakaraḥ kṛṣṇa sarvalokapitāmahaḥ

Translation

ఓ కృష్ణా! విరంచి (బ్రహ్మ) సద్భక్తితో శివుని ఆరాధించాడు. అప్పుడు శైవుల్లో శ్రేష్ఠుడై సృష్టికర్తగా, సమస్త లోకాల పితామహుడిగా అయ్యాడు.

Word by Word

• शिवम्: Śiva (as object of worship)
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√अर्च् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; धातु: अर्च् (पूजायाम्) उपसर्ग: अभि

• सद्भक्त्या: with true devotion
• सद्भक्त्या: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद् + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; समास: सद्भक्ति = सत्-भक्ति (उत्तमा भक्ति)

• विरञ्चिः: Virañci (Brahmā)
• विरञ्चिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरञ्चि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शैवसत्तमः: the best among Śaivas
• शैवसत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: शैवसत्तम = शैवानां सत्तमः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सर्गकरः: creator of creation
• सर्गकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: सर्गकर = सर्गं करोति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• कृष्ण: O Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-एकवचन (संदर्भे संबोधनार्थक प्रयोग)

• सर्वलोकपितामहः: grandfather of all worlds
• सर्वलोकपितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + लोक + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: सर्वलोकपितामह = सर्वेषां लोकानां पितामहः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga legend; it asserts a theological hierarchy: Brahmā (Virañci) becomes sargakara only after worshipping Śiva—Śiva as the ultimate Pati whose grace authorizes secondary creators.

Significance: Reorients creation theology toward Śiva as the source of empowerment; supports Śaiva praxis where worship precedes worldly and cosmic competence.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-sṛṣṭi (implied: cosmic creation cycle)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma (Virañci)

FAQs

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

It teaches that even Brahmā attains his creative authority only after worshipping Śiva with sincere bhakti—affirming Śiva (Pati) as the supreme source who empowers all cosmic functions.

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

The verse highlights Śiva-worship as the gateway to divine empowerment; in Purāṇic practice this is commonly expressed through Saguna worship such as Śiva-liṅga abhiṣeka and arcana performed with devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-arcana with steadfast devotion—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple liṅga-pūjā/abhiṣeka—placing inner bhakti above mere ritual formality.