Shloka 28

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

नीलाख्यरत्नं च तथा रत्ने माणिक्यहेमनी । प्रवालगोमेदके च पञ्चरत्नमिदं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

nīlākhyaratnaṃ ca tathā ratne māṇikyahemanī | pravālagomedake ca pañcaratnamidaṃ smṛtam

Translation

The gem called nīla (sapphire) is also included; along with maṇikya (ruby) and gold, and likewise coral and gomeda. These are remembered as the “five gems” (pañcaratna) for sacred observances.

Word by Word

• nīla-ākhya-ratnam: the gem called “nīla” (sapphire)
• nīla-ākhya-ratnam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (नील इति आख्यं यस्य तत् रत्नम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• ratne: among gems / in the gem-category
• ratne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• māṇikyam: ruby
• māṇikyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṇikya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hemanī: (two) golden gems / gold and (another) gem (hemanī)
• hemanī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hemanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• pravāla-gomedake: in/among coral and gomedaka (hessonite)
• pravāla-gomedake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravāla (प्रातिपदिक) + gomedaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्व-समासः

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• pañca-ratnam: the set of five gems
• pañca-ratnam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च रत्नानि यस्मिन्/समूहः)

• idam: this
• idam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• smṛtam: is declared/considered
• smṛtam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्-प्रत्यय), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively: “is said/considered”

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, as typical of Purāṇic frame-dialogue)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It defines the traditional pañcaratna set—materials regarded as pure and auspicious for offerings—supporting disciplined, sattvic worship that orients the devotee (paśu) toward Pati (Śiva) through purified intention and sacred means.

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

In Saguna worship of the Śiva-liṅga, prescribed substances (including pañcaratna) are offered as upacāras to express reverence and invoke auspiciousness; the offering is a devotional aid, while Śiva remains the inner Reality beyond the material gift.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use pañcaratna (or their symbolic/available equivalents) as part of liṅga-pūjā/upacāra with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—keeping the mind steady on Śiva while offering with purity and restraint.