Shloka 29

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

इत्थमावरणाभ्यर्चां कृत्वा विक्षेपशान्तये । पुनरभ्यर्च्य देवेशम्प्रणवं च शिवं वदेत्

Transliteration

itthamāvaraṇābhyarcāṃ kṛtvā vikṣepaśāntaye | punarabhyarcya deveśampraṇavaṃ ca śivaṃ vadet

Translation

وهكذا، بعد أداء عبادة الإحاطة (āvaraṇa-pūjā) لتهدئة تشتّت الذهن، ينبغي أن يُعادَتَ عبادةُ ربّ الآلهة، ثم يُتلى البرَنَفَة «أوم» ويُنطق بالاسم المقدّس «شِيفا».

Word by Word

• ittham: thus, in this manner
• ittham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• āvaraṇa-abhyarcām: the worship of the enclosures (āvaraṇas)
• āvaraṇa-abhyarcām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyarcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आवरणस्य अभ्यर्चा)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• vikṣepa-śāntaye: for the pacification of distraction
• vikṣepa-śāntaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient-Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikṣepa (प्रातिपदिक) + śānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विक्षेपस्य शान्तिः)

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (adverb: again)

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-arc (अर्च् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• deveśam: the Lord of gods
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• praṇavam: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vadet: should recite/say
• vadet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed method of Shiva worship to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined worship first steadies the mind (vikṣepa-śānti), and only then mantra—Praṇava and the name of Śiva—becomes a direct, purifying means toward Śiva-realization, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on grace (anugraha) through right practice.

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

Āvaraṇa-pūjā is commonly performed around the central object of worship—often the Śiva-liṅga—honoring attendant powers and directions, then returning to Deveśa (Saguna Śiva) as the center; the chanting of Oṁ and “Śiva” seals the worship with mantra, leading the devotee from form-based devotion toward inner contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform āvaraṇa-pūjā to settle distraction, then re-offer worship to Śiva and chant the Praṇava “Oṁ” followed by the name “Śiva” as focused japa—an inner practice supporting concentration and devotion.