Shloka 47

प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva

Devanagari script

सायमौपासनं कृत्वा गुरुणा सहितो द्विजः । शास्त्रोक्तदक्षिणान्दत्त्वा शिवाय गुरुरूपिणे

Transliteration

sāyamaupāsanaṃ kṛtvā guruṇā sahito dvijaḥ | śāstroktadakṣiṇāndattvā śivāya gururūpiṇe

Translation

Having performed the evening upāsanā, the twice-born disciple, accompanied by his guru, offered the scripturally prescribed dakṣiṇā to Śiva—who was present in the very form of the guru.

Word by Word

• सायम्: in the evening
• सायम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सायम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• औपासनम्: the evening worship (aupāsana rite)
• औपासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/gerund) = having done

• गुरुणा: with the teacher
• गुरुणा: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), एकवचन

• सहितः: accompanied
• सहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (कृदन्त; √सह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) = accompanied

• द्विजः: the Brahmin
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शास्त्र-उक्त-दक्षिणान्: the fees prescribed in the śāstra
• शास्त्र-उक्त-दक्षिणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग ‘दक्षिणा’ (बहुवचन), द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शास्त्रे उक्ताः दक्षिणाः)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/gerund) = having given

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• गुरु-रूपिणे: to the one in the form of the guru
• गुरु-रूपिणे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गुरुरूपिणे = गुरु-रूपेण युक्ताय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that true worship culminates in revering the Guru as Shiva Himself; serving the Guru with humility and rightful offering becomes a direct means to receive Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and progress toward liberation.

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

Alongside Linga-worship and other Saguna practices, the Purana emphasizes a living, accessible manifestation of Shiva—the Guru—through whom right knowledge and correct ritual discipline are transmitted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform evening upāsanā as prescribed, then offer dakṣiṇā according to śāstra with the attitude that the Guru is Shiva; this cultivates devotion, purity, and readiness for mantra and meditative practice.