Shloka 28

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

षड्रसं व्यंजनं चैव तांबूलं दक्षिणोत्तरम् । नमश्चानुगमश्चैव स्वन्नदानं दशांगकम्

Transliteration

ṣaḍrasaṃ vyaṃjanaṃ caiva tāṃbūlaṃ dakṣiṇottaram | namaścānugamaścaiva svannadānaṃ daśāṃgakam

Translation

Er soll auch Speisen der sechs Geschmacksrichtungen samt Beilagen darbringen und Tāmbūla (Betel) reichen. Dann vollziehe er die Umrundung nach rechts (Śiva zur Rechten haltend) und die umgekehrte; darauf bringe er Niederwerfung und ehrfürchtiges Folgen dar. So wird die Gabe wohlbereiteter Speise zu einer Verehrung mit zehn Gliedern.

Word by Word

• षट्-रसम्: six tastes
• षट्-रसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numerical compound)

• व्यञ्जनम्: condiment; side-dish
• व्यञ्जनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed; also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• ताम्बूलम्: betel (offering)
• ताम्बूलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दक्षिण-उत्तरम्: right and left; south and north (as prescribed)
• दक्षिण-उत्तरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (copulative)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/निपात)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; नमः-शब्दः (salutation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अनुगमः: following; accompaniment
• अनुगमः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (सूचीपद-रूपेण)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed; also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• स्वन्न-दानम्: gift of good food
• स्वन्न-दानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—स्वन्नस्य दानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• दश-अङ्गकम्: tenfold; consisting of ten parts
• दश-अङ्गकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः; विशेषण (qualifying the set as ten-limbed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva-worship injunctions to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī-Viśvanātha worship is characterized by complete upacāra and naivedya; circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā) and namaskāra are highlighted as embodied surrender, aligning the devotee’s movement with the Lord’s centrality.

Significance: Pradakṣiṇā/namaskāra and offering of complete food (ṣaḍrasa) are taught as purifying acts that transform daily sustenance into Śiva-sevā, accruing merit and preparing the soul for grace.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion becomes complete when it is expressed through both inner reverence (namaḥ, anugama) and outward service (offering wholesome food of all tastes). In Śaiva Siddhānta, such worship purifies the bound soul (paśu) and loosens the bonds (pāśa) through disciplined devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse lists concrete upacāras (services) offered to Saguna Śiva in the form of the Liṅga—naivedya of six tastes, tāmbūla, and circumambulation—showing that the devotee approaches the transcendent Lord through a visible, worshipable form with prescribed acts of honor.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends naivedya with ṣaḍrasa, offering tāmbūla, performing pradakṣiṇā (and its counterpart as stated), and concluding with namaskāra and reverent attendance—practices that can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while circling the Liṅga.