Shloka 14

Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ

On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering

Devanagari script

काश्मीरे स्फाटिके रात्ने ज्योतिर्लिंगेषु सर्वशः । चान्द्रायणसमं प्रोक्तं शंभोर्नैवेद्यभक्षणम्

Transliteration

kāśmīre sphāṭike rātne jyotirliṃgeṣu sarvaśaḥ | cāndrāyaṇasamaṃ proktaṃ śaṃbhornaivedyabhakṣaṇam

Translation

In Kāśmīra, beim Sphāṭika-Juwel (Kristall), und ebenso bei allen Jyotirliṅgas wird verkündet: Das Genießen des geweihten Naivedya Śambhus ist dem Verdienst nach dem Cāndrāyaṇa-Gelübde gleich.

Word by Word

• काश्मीरे: in Kashmir
• काश्मीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्मीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्फाटिके: in crystal
• स्फाटिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फाटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• रात्ने: in a gem
• रात्ने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ज्योतिः-लिङ्गेषु: in the jyotir-liṅgas
• ज्योतिः-लिङ्गेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): ज्योतिषां लिङ्गानि

• सर्वशः: in every way
• सर्वशः: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'in every way/altogether')

• चान्द्रायण-समम्: equal to (the merit of) Cāndrāyaṇa
• चान्द्रायण-समम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/उपमान-भाव: चान्द्रायणेन समम् (equal to the Cāndrāyaṇa vow)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared/said
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग: 'is said'

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• नैवेद्य-भक्षणम्: eating the offering (naivedya)
• नैवेद्य-भक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): नैवेद्यस्य भक्षणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse links merit at a famed crystal-liṅga site (Kāśmīra sphāṭika-ratna) with the pan-Indian network of jyotirliṅgas, asserting that Śiva’s prasāda (naivedya) there carries vow-equivalent purificatory power (cāndrāyaṇa-sama).

Significance: Partaking Śiva-naivedya at jyotirliṅga-kṣetras is said to equal the merit of the rigorous Cāndrāyaṇa penance—framing prasāda as a vehicle of purification and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Jyotirlinga

FAQs

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

The verse elevates bhakti expressed through Śiva-pūjā: receiving and reverently partaking of Śambhu’s naivedya is portrayed as carrying the same purificatory merit as the rigorous Cāndrāyaṇa penance, emphasizing grace (anugraha) over mere austerity.

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

It connects directly to Liṅga-upāsanā at Jyotirliṅgas—iconic manifestations of Saguna Śiva—teaching that offerings made to the Liṅga become sanctified (prasāda), and honoring that prasāda is itself a powerful act of worship and inner purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer naivedya to Śiva with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), then partake of the prasāda with humility and purity—treating it as Śiva’s grace—particularly during Jyotirliṅga darśana and vrata observances.