Shloka 37

न्यासवर्णनम् (Nyāsa-varṇanam) — Description of Nyāsa in the Saṃnyāsa Procedure

Devanagari script

अभ्यर्च्य गंधपुष्पाद्यैर्जानुभ्यामवनीं गतः । अर्घ्यपात्रं समादाय भूमध्यान्तं समुद्धरेत्

Transliteration

abhyarcya gaṃdhapuṣpādyairjānubhyāmavanīṃ gataḥ | arghyapātraṃ samādāya bhūmadhyāntaṃ samuddharet

Translation

بعد أن يعبد (شِيفا) بالعطر والزهور وما شابه، يركع ويلمس الأرض؛ ثم يأخذ إناء الأَرغْيَة (arghya) ويرفعه من الموضع القريب من وسط أرض المعبد/موضع العبادة، على الوجه المأثور.

Word by Word

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धाातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्) with prefix abhi-; from √arc ‘to worship’

• gandha-puṣpa-ādyaiḥ: with perfumes, flowers, etc.
• gandha-puṣpa-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; means/instruments of worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + puṣpa + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; dvandva-like enumeration ‘fragrance, flowers, etc.’ used as offerings

• jānubhyām: with (both) knees
• jānubhyām: Karaṇa (करण; means—by the knees, i.e., kneeling)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Dual (द्विवचन)

• avanīm: the ground/earth
• avanīm: Karma (कर्म; object of motion/attainment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular

• gataḥ: having gone (down)
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता; doer/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धाातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त; PPP used in active sense for intransitive), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; from √gam ‘to go’

• arghya-pātram: the arghya vessel
• arghya-pātram: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya + pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘vessel for arghya (offering-water)’

• sam-ādāya: having taken up
• sam-ādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dā (धाातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) with prefix sam-; from √dā (ādā) ‘to take’

• bhūmi-madhyāntam: from the middle of the ground
• bhūmi-madhyāntam: Karma (कर्म; object/goal with ud-√hṛ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi + madhya + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘to the middle/end-point of the ground’ (i.e., from the ground’s center/level)

• sam-uddharet: should lift up
• sam-uddharet: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-hṛ (धाातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्; optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; with prefix sam-; ‘should lift/raise’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Pashupatinatha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A ritual-action verse describing bodily posture (kneeling, touching earth) and handling of the arghya vessel; not a Jyotirliṅga legend.

Significance: Embodies humility and groundedness before the Lord; correct arghya procedure is presented as a means to remove ritual obstacles and align the devotee (paśu) toward Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes humility and reverence: after offering scents and flowers, the devotee physically lowers himself to the earth, expressing surrender (bhakti) and readiness for grace—an outer act meant to support inner devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

It describes a concrete step in Saguna worship—handling the arghya-vessel within the worship-space—showing that Linga-puja is performed with orderly ritual actions that embody respect, purity, and attentiveness toward Śiva’s manifest presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A prescribed puja sequence is indicated: offer gandha and puṣpa, adopt a kneeling posture (sign of vinaya), and then present arghya with careful, centered attention—supporting mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) with disciplined ritual focus.