Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

दक्षहस्तस्थितांगुष्ठं समारभ्य यथाक्रमम् । वामहस्तकनिष्ठांतं विन्यसेत्पूर्ववत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

dakṣahastasthitāṃguṣṭhaṃ samārabhya yathākramam | vāmahastakaniṣṭhāṃtaṃ vinyasetpūrvavatkramāt

Translation

Beginnend mit dem Daumen der rechten Hand und der Reihenfolge gemäß, setze man (Nyāsa/Mantra) bis zum kleinen Finger der linken Hand, in derselben Abfolge wie zuvor gelehrt.

Word by Word

• दक्ष-हस्त-स्थित-अङ्गुष्ठम्: the right-hand thumb
• दक्ष-हस्त-स्थित-अङ्गुष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त) + अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: दक्षहस्ते स्थितः अङ्गुष्ठः = the thumb situated in the right hand

• समारभ्य: starting from
• समारभ्य: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अर्थः: beginning from

• यथा-क्रमम्: in due order
• यथा-क्रमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः: in proper order

• वाम-हस्त-कनिष्ठ-अन्तम्: up to the end of the left-hand little finger
• वाम-हस्त-कनिष्ठ-अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: वामहस्तस्य कनिष्ठायाः अन्तम् = up to the end of the little finger of the left hand

• विन्यसेत्: should place
• विन्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः: should place/assign

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb): as before

• क्रमात्: in order
• क्रमात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी; एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (ablative used adverbially): in sequence

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śaiva ritual procedure to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined mantra-internalization (nyāsa): by placing the mantra through an ordered sequence on the hands, the devotee consecrates action (karma) into Śiva-oriented worship, aligning the embodied self (paśu) toward Pati, Lord Śiva.

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

Nyāsa prepares the worshipper before external pūjā of the Liṅga (Saguna Śiva). By sanctifying the hands—through which offerings are made—the devotee makes the outer worship a support for inner remembrance of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A kara-nyāsa style placement: start from the right thumb and proceed in order, then continue up to the left little finger, installing the mantra as previously instructed—typically alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) in Śaiva practice.