Shloka 42

Śiva-Pūjākramaḥ — The Procedural Order of Shiva Worship

Pañcāvaraṇa & Upacāras

Devanagari script

निधाय चरणत्म्भोजन्देव देव्योस्स्वमूर्द्धनि । पूर्णानुग्रहमासाद्य तत्रैव न्यवसत्सुखम्

Transliteration

nidhāya caraṇatmbhojandeva devyossvamūrddhani | pūrṇānugrahamāsādya tatraiva nyavasatsukham

Translation

Placing His lotus-feet upon the head of the Goddess, the Lord—having bestowed complete grace—remained there itself, abiding in bliss.

Word by Word

• nidhāya: having placed
• nidhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु) + ni + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• caraṇa-ambhojam: the lotus-feet
• caraṇa-ambhojam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa + ambhoja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• deva: O Lord
• deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• devyoḥ: of the two goddesses (Śiva and Śakti pair / the divine couple)
• devyoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी/सप्तमी (Gen./Loc.), द्विवचन (Dual)

• sva-mūrdhani: on (his) own head
• sva-mūrdhani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• pūrṇa-anugraham: full grace
• pūrṇa-anugraham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇa + anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• āsādya: having attained
• āsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sad (धातु) + ā + ल्यप् (ल्यप्/gerund)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/ल्यपन्त-अव्यय (gerund: having attained)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• nyavasat: dwelt/stayed
• nyavasat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु) + ni
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• sukham: happily/at ease
• sukham: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative used adverbially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the Siddhānta doctrine that liberation is effected by Śiva’s grace (anugraha) rather than by the soul’s power alone; the ‘lotus-feet’ motif is a standard bhakti focus in pilgrimage and temple darśana.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (liberating grace): the Lord’s touch and blessing upon the devotee (Devī) signifies the removal of bondage (pāśa) and the establishment of inner bliss under Pati’s protection.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Śiva’s personal, compassionate presence—grace given through a tangible act (placing the lotus-feet). This supports devotional worship where the devotee approaches Śiva as a gracious Lord who responds to bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) and pāda-sevā bhāva (reverence to Śiva’s feet): meditate on Śiva’s lotus-feet, recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate humility as the basis for receiving anugraha.