Shloka 42

Ekādaśāhna-vidhiḥ (The Rite Prescribed for the Eleventh Day): Maṇḍala-racanā, Āvāhana, Mudrā, and Ativāhika-devatā Pūjā

Devanagari script

द्वादशाथ समाहूय ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान् । केशवादिभिरभ्यर्च्य गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादिभिः

Transliteration

dvādaśātha samāhūya brāhmaṇānvedapāragān | keśavādibhirabhyarcya gandhapuṣpākṣatādibhiḥ

Translation

Then, having summoned twelve Brāhmaṇas well-versed in the Vedas, he honored and worshipped them—addressing them with reverent epithets such as “Keśava”—and offered fragrances, flowers, unbroken rice (akṣata), and other auspicious articles.

Word by Word

• द्वादश: twelve (persons)
• द्वादश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), बहुवचनम्; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (numeral adjective)

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

• समाहूय: having summoned
• समाहूय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive); ‘having summoned/called together’

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• वेदपारगान्: versed in the Vedas
• वेदपारगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘ब्राह्मणान्’ इति विशेषणम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य पारगः)

• केशव-आदिभिः: with (names) beginning with Keśava
• केशव-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), बहुवचनम्; ‘केशवः आदिः येषाम्’ इति आदिसमासः (tatpurusha)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√अर्च् (अर्च पूजायाम्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund); ‘having worshipped’

• गन्ध-पुष्प-अक्षत-आदिभिः: with fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice, etc.
• गन्ध-पुष्प-अक्षत-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + पुष्प + अक्षत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), बहुवचनम्; समाहार/सूची-समासः ‘…आदि’ (tatpurusha)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; the verse prescribes honoring twelve Veda-knowing Brāhmaṇas with Vaiṣṇava epithets (Keśava etc.), a dharmic hospitality/arcana that functions as ritual support for the main vrata.

Significance: Merit through brāhmaṇa-satkara and devatā-bhāva (seeing divinity in guests), believed to stabilize rites and confer auspiciousness.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: keśavādibhiḥ (epithets beginning with “Keśava” used in honoring)

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It highlights sanctifying one’s worship through humility and reverence—honoring learned Brāhmaṇas with pure offerings reflects inner purity and supports dharmic conduct that steadies devotion toward Lord Shiva.

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

In Saguna worship, outer rites mirror inner devotion; honoring Veda-knowers and offering gandha, flowers, and akṣata forms part of the devotional ecosystem that prepares the practitioner for focused Linga-worship and Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform respectful hospitality and worship of qualified Brāhmaṇas, using auspicious items like fragrance, flowers, and akṣata—an implied preparatory rite before deeper Shiva-upāsanā (often alongside mantra-japa and purity observances).