Shloka 8

संन्यासमण्डलविधिवर्णनम्

Sannyāsa Maṇḍala Vidhi—Procedure for the Renunciate Mandala

Devanagari script

वनभिद्दलदक्षं तु समारभ्य सुरेश्वरि । रक्तकृष्णाः क्रमेणैव दलसन्धीन्विचित्रयेत्

Transliteration

vanabhiddaladakṣaṃ tu samārabhya sureśvari | raktakṛṣṇāḥ krameṇaiva dalasandhīnvicitrayet

Translation

O Goddess, beginning with the petal on the southern side, one should in proper order adorn the junctions between the petals with red and black colours.

Word by Word

• वन-भिद्-दल-दक्षम्: the petal-design (diagram) of the forest-splitting (type), i.e., the vanabhid-petal pattern
• वन-भिद्-दल-दक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + भिद् (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वनं भिनत्ति इति वनभित्; वनभितः दलानि; तेषां दक्षम्)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• समारभ्य: having begun; starting from
• समारभ्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having begun/starting’

• सुरेश्वरि: O goddess, ruler of the gods
• सुरेश्वरि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर-ईश्वरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सुराणाम् ईश्वरी)

• रक्त-कृष्णाः: red and black (colors)
• रक्त-कृष्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (रक्ताश्च कृष्णाश्च)

• क्रमेण: in sequence; gradually
• क्रमेण: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे ‘in order/gradually’

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis) ‘only/indeed’

• दल-सन्धीन्: the junctions of the petals
• दल-सन्धीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दलानां सन्धयः)

• विचित्रयेत्: should depict/ornament (with colors)
• विचित्रयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चित्रय् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should make variegated/depict’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ordered, mindful worship—beautifying sacred forms step-by-step—so the devotee’s attention becomes steady and devotional (bhakti) rather than scattered.

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

The verse describes external, form-based (saguṇa) worship using symbolic colours and patterned decoration, training the mind to revere Shiva’s presence through a consecrated representation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured pūjā practice: decorate a lotus/yantra-like petal arrangement in sequence, marking petal-joints with red and black as prescribed, while maintaining focused japa and reverence.