Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

पंचोपचारैस्संपूज्य शिरसा श्रीगुरुम्बुधः । प्रणवं श्रीचतुर्थ्यंतं नमोंतं प्रणमेत्ततः

Transliteration

paṃcopacāraissaṃpūjya śirasā śrīgurumbudhaḥ | praṇavaṃ śrīcaturthyaṃtaṃ namoṃtaṃ praṇamettataḥ

Translation

Having duly worshipped the venerable Guru with the five offerings, the wise devotee should bow with the head. Thereafter, he should prostrate, uttering the Praṇava “Oṁ”, followed by the auspicious mantra ending in the fourth case (—ya), and concluding with “namo” (salutation).

Word by Word

• पञ्च-उपचारैः: with five offerings/services
• पञ्च-उपचारैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (पञ्च उपचाराः)

• सम्पूज्य: having worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पूज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive), ‘having worshipped’

• शिरसा: with (his) head; by bowing
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• श्री-गुरुम्: the venerable guru
• श्री-गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (श्रीमान् गुरु:)

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रणवम्: praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• श्री-चतुर्थी-अन्तम्: ending with the fourth (case-ending) ‘śrī’ (as taught)
• श्री-चतुर्थी-अन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of प्रणवम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थ्यन्तम् = चतुर्थ्या अन्तः यस्य/यत्र)

• नमः-अन्तम्: ending with ‘namaḥ’
• नमः-अन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of प्रणवम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नमः (अव्यय/निपात) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नमः अन्तः यस्य)

• प्रणमेत्: should bow/salute
• प्रणमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: sequence/thereafter)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It establishes the Shaiva Siddhanta order of practice: first reverence to the Guru (the channel of Śiva’s grace), then mantra-oriented surrender. Worship (upacāra), humility (bowing), and mantra (praṇava + Śivāya + namo) together purify the bound soul (paśu) and align it to Pati, Lord Śiva.

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

Pañcopacāra is a standard method for Saguna worship—especially in Liṅga-pūjā—offering simple, concentrated devotion through five services. The verse links outer worship to inner recollection through mantra, making Liṅga worship both ritual and contemplative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pañcopacāra worship to the Guru (and by extension Śiva), then prostrate and chant a mantra structure: Oṁ + ‘Śivāya’ (dative ending) + ‘namo’. Practically, this points to japa of “Oṁ namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by disciplined reverence and right initiation.