Shloka 35

Ekādaśāhna-vidhiḥ (The Rite Prescribed for the Eleventh Day): Maṇḍala-racanā, Āvāhana, Mudrā, and Ativāhika-devatā Pūjā

Devanagari script

पादौ प्रक्षाल्य तेषान्तु प्राङ्मुखानुपवेश्य च । गन्धादिभिरलंकृत्य भोजयेच्च शिवा ग्रतः

Transliteration

pādau prakṣālya teṣāntu prāṅmukhānupaveśya ca | gandhādibhiralaṃkṛtya bhojayecca śivā grataḥ

Translation

Nachdem man ihnen die Füße gewaschen hat, setze man sie mit dem Gesicht nach Osten; dann ehre man sie mit Düften und ähnlichen Gaben und speise sie in der Gegenwart Śivās (Pārvatī).

Word by Word

• पादौ: (their) two feet
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (gerund): having washed

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• प्राङ्मुखान्: facing east
• प्राङ्मुखान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (प्राङ् मुखं यस्य)

• उपवेश्य: having seated
• उपवेश्य: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (gerund): having seated (them)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• गन्ध-आदिभिः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्ध-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गन्धः आदिः येषाम्)

• अलंकृत्य: having adorned
• अलंकृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलम् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (gerund): having adorned

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) (णिच् causative: भोजय)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• शिव-अग्रतः: in front of Śiva
• शिव-अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रतस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘अग्रतः’ स्थानवाचक अव्यय (in front of); समस्तपदम् अव्ययवत्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that humble service—washing feet, offering honor, and feeding guests/devotees—is a direct form of devotion (bhakti) that pleases the Divine Mother and supports purity of intention in Shaiva dharma.

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

In Saguna worship, devotion is expressed not only through offerings to the Linga but also through reverent service to Shiva’s devotees and those present in the sacred space—done here explicitly before Śivā (Pārvatī), sanctifying the act.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical Shaiva observance: perform guest-honoring (pādya—washing feet), seat them facing east, offer gandha/incense/flowers, and give sanctified food (anna-dāna) as part of puja or vrata.