Shloka 5

अग्नियज्ञ-देवयज्ञ-ब्रह्मयज्ञ-गुरुपूजा-क्रमनिरूपणम् / Ordering and Definitions of Agniyajña, Devayajña, Brahmayajña, and Guru-Pūjā

Devanagari script

औपासनाग्निसंधानं समारभ्य सुरक्षितम् । कुंडे वाप्यथ भांडे वा तदजस्रं समीरितम्

Transliteration

aupāsanāgnisaṃdhānaṃ samārabhya surakṣitam | kuṃḍe vāpyatha bhāṃḍe vā tadajasraṃ samīritam

Translation

Nachdem man das ordnungsgemäße Entzünden und Errichten des häuslichen heiligen Feuers (aupāsana) begonnen hat, sollte man es sorgfältig schützen – sei es in einer Feuergrube (kuṇḍa) oder in einem Gefäß – und es ohne Unterbrechung kontinuierlich aufrechterhalten.

Word by Word

• aupāsana-agni-saṃdhānam: the kindling/establishing of the household sacred fire
• aupāsana-agni-saṃdhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aupāsana (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃdhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—औपासनस्य अग्नेः संधानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• samārabhya: having begun
• samārabhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-rabh (धातु)
• Form: Gerund/Absolutive (क्त्वान्त अव्यय), from √rabh with prefixes sam+ā; ‘having begun/undertaken’

• surakṣitam: well-protected/securely kept
• surakṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-rakṣita (प्रातिपदिक; √rakṣ धातु + क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त) used adjectivally

• kuṇḍe: in a fire-pit
• kuṇḍe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय) ‘or’

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि) ‘also/even’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक) ‘then/now’

• bhāṇḍe: in a vessel/pot
• bhāṇḍe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय) ‘or’

• tat: that (fire/act)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• ajasram: unceasingly/continuously
• ajasram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ajasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially with ‘tat’

• samīritam: is prescribed/declared
• samīritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-īrita (प्रातिपदिक; √īr धातु + क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches steadiness (niyama) in sacred practice: protecting and sustaining the consecrated fire symbolizes uninterrupted devotion and inner purity offered to Pati (Shiva), supporting liberation-oriented living.

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

In Shaiva worship, outer disciplines like the maintained sacred fire support orderly pūjā to Saguna Shiva (including Liṅga worship). The verse emphasizes continuity and careful guardianship of the ritual foundation that accompanies such worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain the aupāsana fire regularly and without breaks—kept safely in a kuṇḍa or a suitable vessel—treating it as a continuous sacred observance that steadies the mind for mantra and pūjā.