Shloka 4

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

Sūta’s Return to Kāśī and the Observances of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

सम्वत्सरान्ते स पुनः काशीम्प्राप महामुनिः । शिवभक्तिरतो ज्ञानी पुराणार्थप्रकाशकः

Transliteration

samvatsarānte sa punaḥ kāśīmprāpa mahāmuniḥ | śivabhaktirato jñānī purāṇārthaprakāśakaḥ

Translation

Sa pagtatapos ng isang taon, muling dumating sa Kāśī ang dakilang muni—isang nakaaalam ng katotohanan, matatag sa bhakti kay Panginoong Śiva, at tagapagliwanag ng panloob na diwa ng mga Purāṇa.

Word by Word

• संवत्सर-अन्ते: at the end of the year
• संवत्सर-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (संवत्सरस्य अन्ते)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• काशीम्: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• काशीम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्राप: reached
• प्राप: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् मुनिः)

• शिव-भक्ति-रतः: devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• शिव-भक्ति-रतः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवे भक्तौ रतः)

• ज्ञानी: the knower/wise one
• ज्ञानी: विशेषण/कर्ता (Appositive/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• पुराण-अर्थ-प्रकाशकः: illuminator/explainer of the Purāṇa’s meaning
• पुराण-अर्थ-प्रकाशकः: विशेषण/कर्ता (Appositive/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुराणस्य अर्थस्य प्रकाशकः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is celebrated as Śiva’s own city where liberation is granted; Viśvanātha is revered as the Lord of the universe who bestows mokṣa, especially through the saving grace associated with Kāśī.

Significance: Darśana and worship in Kāśī/Viśvanātha are traditionally linked with liberation (mokṣa) and the fruition of Śiva-bhakti and jñāna.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashi

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal of harmony between bhakti and jñāna: true wisdom culminates in devotion to Pati (Śiva), and such devotion enables one to reveal the Purāṇic teaching as a practical path toward liberation.

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

By praising one who is ‘śiva-bhakti-rata,’ the verse points to lived devotion to Saguna Śiva—commonly expressed through Liṅga worship, pilgrimage to sacred kṣetras like Kāśī, and reverent study of Śiva-centered Purāṇic meanings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implicitly supports steady Śiva-bhakti over time (a vowed practice), such as daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and kṣetra-smaraṇa/pilgrimage orientation toward Kāśī as a Śiva-kṣetra.