Shloka 21

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

अभ्यर्च्य गन्धपुष्पाद्यैर्धूपदीपौ प्रदर्श्य च । संरक्षास्त्रेण तं शंखं वर्मणाथावगुण्ठयेत्

Transliteration

abhyarcya gandhapuṣpādyairdhūpadīpau pradarśya ca | saṃrakṣāstreṇa taṃ śaṃkhaṃ varmaṇāthāvaguṇṭhayet

Translation

Having duly worshipped it with fragrances, flowers, and the like, and having offered incense and a lamp, one should protect that conch with the Mantra of Protection (saṃrakṣāstra) and veil it with the spiritual ‘armor’ (kavaca), so the rite remains guarded and fit for Śiva’s worship.

Word by Word

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having worshipped’

• गन्ध-पुष्प-आद्यैः: with scents, flowers, etc.
• गन्ध-पुष्प-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + पुष्प + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); समास: गन्धपुष्पादि (fragrance, flowers, etc.)

• धूप-दीपौ: incense and lamp
• धूप-दीपौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप + दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Dual); द्वन्द्व: धूपः च दीपः च

• प्रदर्श्य: having shown/offered
• प्रदर्श्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-समानार्थक अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive sense), ‘having shown/offered’

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

• संरक्षा-स्त्रेण: with the protective weapon (mantra)
• संरक्षा-स्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संरक्षा + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular); समास: संरक्षणाय अस्त्रम् (protective weapon-mantra)

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine pronoun, Accusative, Singular)

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• वर्मणा: with (the) armor (mantra)
• वर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/now)

• अवगुण्ठयेत्: should cover/veil
• अवगुण्ठयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + गुण्ठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should cover/veil/enclose)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teachings on Śaiva ritual to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: kavaca

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is not only offering-based (flowers, incense, lamp) but also mantra-based: the worshipper safeguards the rite through saṃrakṣā-mantras, symbolizing inner purity and protection from distractions and impurity (pāśa).

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

The conch is a sanctified support-item within Saguna worship; by protecting it with kavaca and saṃrakṣāstra, the devotee ensures the external rite remains a worthy vessel for invoking Śiva’s presence in the Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform upacāras (gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa) and then recite a protective mantra (kavaca/saṃrakṣā) while mentally ‘covering’ the implement—an outer act mirroring inner mantra-guarding of attention during worship.