Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

अग्निरित्यादिभिर्मंत्रैर्भस्म संधारयेत्ततः । शिरसि श्रीगुरुं नत्वा मण्डलं रचयेत्पुनः

Transliteration

agnirityādibhirmaṃtrairbhasma saṃdhārayettataḥ | śirasi śrīguruṃ natvā maṇḍalaṃ racayetpunaḥ

Translation

Dann soll man, indem man die mit „Agni“ beginnenden Mantras rezitiert, die heilige Asche (Bhasma) auftragen und bewahren. Nachdem man mit dem Haupt dem verehrungswürdigen Guru die Ehre erwiesen hat, soll man erneut das rituelle Maṇḍala (heilige Zeichnung) zur Verehrung bereiten.

Word by Word

• अग्निः: ‘Agni’
• अग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘इति’पूर्वपद-निर्देशः

• इति: thus; ‘so’
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक निपात (quotative particle)

• आदिभिः: with (those) beginning with… / etc.
• आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; “etc.”

• मन्त्रैः: by mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• भस्म: sacred ash
• भस्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• संधारयेत्: should apply/hold
• संधारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; “should hold/apply”

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then/thereafter)

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• श्री-गुरुम्: the revered guru
• श्री-गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (श्रीमान् गुरु:)

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — “having bowed (to)”

• मण्डलम्: a maṇḍala (ritual diagram)
• मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• रचयेत्: should make/draw
• रचयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; “should construct/draw”

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (again)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: "agni"-ity-ādi-mantrāḥ (bhasma-dhāraṇa-prayoga)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship is grounded in purification (bhasma with Vedic mantras), humility, and right transmission—bowing to the Guru—before entering the sacred space of worship (maṇḍala).

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

By prescribing bhasma-dhāraṇa and maṇḍala-racana, it outlines preparatory steps for formal Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the Lord through consecrated space, mantra, and disciplined ritual order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply sacred ash while reciting mantras beginning with “Agni,” then bow to the Guru and construct the worship maṇḍala—an outer ritual that supports inner steadiness and Shaiva devotion.