Shloka 40

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

ततश्चाङ्गानि विन्यस्य सर्वज्ञानीत्यनुक्रमात् । कल्पयेदुपचारांश्च षोडशासनपूर्वकान्

Transliteration

tataścāṅgāni vinyasya sarvajñānītyanukramāt | kalpayedupacārāṃśca ṣoḍaśāsanapūrvakān

Translation

Thereafter, having performed the nyāsa of the limbs in due sequence with the mantra beginning “Sarvajñānī…”, one should arrange the acts of worship—beginning with offering a seat—according to the sixteen traditional upacāras (services) for Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (from there/then)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• विन्यस्य: having placed
• विन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु) / विन्यस् (धात्वादेश)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• सर्वज्ञानीति: (saying) ‘sarvajñānī’
• सर्वज्ञानीति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वज्ञानी (प्रातिपदिक) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक ‘इति’ सहितं नाम/मन्त्र-उद्धरणम् (quotation of the word ‘sarvajñānī’)

• अनुक्रमात्: in sequence / according to order
• अनुक्रमात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान; source/order)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेतौ/क्रमे (in due order)

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/perform
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उपचारान्: services/offerings
• उपचारान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• षोडश-आसन-पूर्वकान्: beginning with the sixteen (items) such as āsana
• षोडश-आसन-पूर्वकान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (āsana-pūrvaka: beginning with āsana; qualified by sixteen)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā’s worship-method to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: “sarvajñānī …” (aṅga-nyāsa mantra incipit as cited)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is not merely external offering: through aṅga-nyāsa the devotee sanctifies the body as Śiva’s temple, then completes devotion with the full ṣoḍaśopacāra, aligning inner awareness with outer worship.

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

The verse frames standard saguna worship—especially of the Śiva-liṅga—by prescribing āsana-first ṣoḍaśopacāras, preceded by mantra-nyāsa, so the worshipper approaches the visible symbol with purified, Śiva-centered consciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform aṅga-nyāsa using the “Sarvajñānī…” mantra in correct sequence, then offer the sixteen upacāras starting with āsana; this combines mantra-dhāraṇā (focused remembrance) with complete ritual hospitality to Lord Śiva.