Shloka 13

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

Sūta’s Return to Kāśī and the Observances of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

श्रीमत्पंचाक्षरीम्विद्यामष्टोत्तरसहस्रकम् । संजप्य पुरतः स्थित्वा क्षमापय्य महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

śrīmatpaṃcākṣarīmvidyāmaṣṭottarasahasrakam | saṃjapya purataḥ sthitvā kṣamāpayya maheśvaram

Translation

Having duly repeated the sacred five-syllabled mantra—“Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya”—a thousand and eight times, one should stand before Mahādeva and, in humility, seek forgiveness from Maheśvara.

Word by Word

• श्रीमत्-पञ्चाक्षरीम्-विद्याम्: the auspicious pañcākṣarī mantra (vidyā)
• श्रीमत्-पञ्चाक्षरीम्-विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चाक्षरी (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘श्रीमत् पञ्चाक्षरी नाम विद्या’ (the auspicious five-syllabled mantra-knowledge)

• अष्ट-उत्तर-सहस्रकम्: (to the count of) one thousand and eight (1008)
• अष्ट-उत्तर-सहस्रकम्: Karma (कर्म/Measure-Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु/संख्यासमासः—‘सहस्रं अष्टोत्तरम्’ (=1008) (as a count/measure)

• संजप्य: having recited
• संजप्य: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having muttered/recited’

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश-क्रियाविशेषण/उपपद (in front/before)

• स्थित्वा: having stood
• स्थित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having stood’

• क्षमापय्य: having begged pardon from
• क्षमापय्य: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षम (धातु) (णिच् causative: क्षमापयति)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) from causative; ‘having asked forgiveness / having caused to forgive’

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of ‘asking pardon’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes a normative Siddhānta sādhana: pañcākṣarī-japa (108/1008) before the Lord, followed by kṣamā-yācñā (seeking pardon), aligning personal purification with readiness for Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-japa must culminate in humility: after chanting the Panchākṣarī 1008 times, the devotee consciously surrenders ego and seeks Śiva’s grace through kṣamā-prārthanā (a prayer for forgiveness), aligning the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

Standing “before” Maheśvara implies worship in the Lord’s accessible form—often the Śiva-liṅga—where the devotee performs japa and then offers repentance directly to the manifest (saguṇa) presence, seeking purification and nearness to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pañcākṣarī japa of 1008 repetitions, followed by standing near the deity (or liṅga) and offering a sincere forgiveness prayer; this can be paired with standard Śaiva observances like clean conduct, calm breath, and focused remembrance of Śiva.