Shloka 1

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

द्वाविंशो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / शिवार्चनं प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्ंमकामादिसाधनम् / त्रिभिर्मन्त्रैराचामेत्तु स्वाहान्तैः प्रणवादिकैः

Transliteration

dvāviṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / śivārcanaṃ pravakṣyāmi dharṃmakāmādisādhanam / tribhirmantrairācāmettu svāhāntaiḥ praṇavādikaiḥ

Translation

Sūta sprach: „Ich werde die Verehrung Śivas darlegen, ein Mittel zur Erlangung von Dharma, Kāma und dergleichen. Man vollziehe die Ācamana mit drei Mantras, beginnend mit der Praṇava ‘Oṁ’ und endend mit ‘svāhā’.“

Word by Word

• dvāviṃśaḥ: twenty-second
• dvāviṃśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvāviṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (ordinal)

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sūtaḥ: Sūta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śivārcanam: worship of Śiva
• śivārcanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + arcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य अर्चनम्)

• pravakṣyāmi: I will explain
• pravakṣyāmi: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dharmakāmādisādhanam: a means for dharma, kāma, etc.
• dharmakāmādisādhanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + kāma + ādi + sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—(धर्मकामा-आदि) + साधनम् (तत्पुरुष)

• tribhiḥ: with three
• tribhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ācāmet: let (him) sip (ācamana)
• ācāmet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + cam (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• svāhāntaiḥ: ending with “svāhā”
• svāhāntaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svāhā + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—स्वाहा अन्तः येषाम् (स्वाहान्त)

• praṇavādikaiḥ: beginning with the praṇava (oṃ), etc.
• praṇavādikaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇava + ādi + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—प्रणवः आदिः येषाम् (प्रणवादि)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śivārcana as a disciplined means (sādhana) supporting dharma and kāma; purity through ācamana with praṇava and svāhā endings.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga as antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) preparing for higher knowledge; mantra as śabda-brahman aid.

Application: Begin worship with regulated ācamana: three sips using mantras that start with Oṁ and conclude with svāhā; treat worship as structured practice, not casual devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Ācāra sections): general emphasis on śauca, mantra, and śrāddha-vidhi where svadhā/svāhā are distinguished

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Svāhā

FAQs

What is the importance of Śiva worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śiva-arcana as a practical spiritual discipline that supports the human aims of life—especially dharma and kāma—by beginning worship with proper purification and mantra-usage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that inner and outer purity (ācāmana) and disciplined worship are part of dharma, which shapes karmic outcomes and supports spiritual progress described elsewhere in the Purāṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any daily prayer or pūjā, perform a brief purification—ācāmana with reverent mantra-recitation (beginning with Oṁ and concluding with “svāhā”)—to cultivate mindfulness and ritual correctness.