Shloka 14

न्यासवर्णनम् (Nyāsa-varṇanam) — Description of Nyāsa in the Saṃnyāsa Procedure

Devanagari script

धर्मं ज्ञानं च वैराग्यमैश्वर्यं च चतुष्टयम् । अधर्माद्यग्निकोणादिकोणेषु च समर्चयेत्

Transliteration

dharmaṃ jñānaṃ ca vairāgyamaiśvaryaṃ ca catuṣṭayam | adharmādyagnikoṇādikoṇeṣu ca samarcayet

Translation

One should worship the fourfold excellence—dharma (right conduct), jñāna (true knowledge), vairāgya (dispassion), and aiśvarya (sovereign spiritual power)—placing them in the prescribed corners beginning with the fire-corner, together with their opposites such as adharma, according to the ritual array. Thus the sādhaka aligns outer worship with inner conquest of bonds, honoring Śiva as Pati, the giver of liberation.

Word by Word

• धर्मम्: dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship/power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुष्टयम्: the set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समाहार (collective)

• अधर्मादि: (starting with) adharma etc.
• अधर्मादि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (आदि-समासप्रयोग), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—अधर्म-आदि (तत्पुरुष) = ‘adharma etc.’ (group-name)

• अग्निकोणादिकोणेषु: in the corners beginning with the Agni corner (SE etc.)
• अग्निकोणादिकोणेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + कोण + आदि + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः—अग्नि-कोण-आदि-कोण (तत्पुरुष; ‘आदि’ = etc.); अधिकरण (locative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• समर्चयेत्: should worship duly
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa teachings as a Purāṇic discourse to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Śaiva worship is both external and internal: the devotee honors dharma, jñāna, vairāgya, and aiśvarya as liberating qualities, while consciously recognizing and overcoming their opposites (like adharma). This aligns with Shaiva Siddhanta’s aim of removing pāśa (bondage) so the pashu (soul) may realize the grace of Pati (Śiva).

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

In Linga-worship, directional placement and nyāsa-like ordering are used to sanctify space; here that structure is given a philosophical meaning—placing virtues and acknowledging their negations—so Saguna Śiva worship becomes a disciplined method for inner purification leading toward the realization of Śiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a mandala-style, direction-based worship: mentally (or in a yantra/altar) place the four virtues in the prescribed corners beginning from the agni-koṇa, while meditating on abandoning adharma and related impurities, and then offer worship to Śiva with mantra and steady awareness.