Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

अपसर्प्पन्त्विति प्रोच्य प्रणवं तदनंतरम् । अस्त्राय फडिति प्रोच्य पार्ष्णिघातत्रयेण तु

Transliteration

apasarppantviti procya praṇavaṃ tadanaṃtaram | astrāya phaḍiti procya pārṣṇighātatrayeṇa tu

Translation

Uttering, “Depart, depart!”, one should next pronounce the Praṇava (Oṃ). Then, saying, “For the Astra—phaṭ!”, one should strike three times with the heel, driving away obstructing forces and securing the rite under Śiva’s mantric protection.

Word by Word

• apasarpantu: let them depart/creep away
• apasarpantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√sṛp (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative/लोट्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• procya: having said
• procya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having proclaimed/said’

• praṇavam: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumān, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• tat: then/that
• tat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; used adverbially with anantaram (‘that/then’)

• anantaram: immediately after
• anantaram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; adverbial accusative ‘immediately after’

• astrāya: to/for the astra
• astrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; mantra-dative

• phaṭ: phaṭ
• phaṭ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; mantra-utterance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: phaṭ (अव्यय)
• Form: Mantra-nipāta (मन्त्र-निपात)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• procya: having uttered
• procya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having said’

• pārṣṇi: heel
• pārṣṇi: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārṣṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd) singular implied in compound; used as prior member

• ghāta: strike/blow
• ghāta: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumān, Tṛtīyā singular implied in compound; used as prior member

• trayeṇa: by the three (heel) strikes
• trayeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: traya (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘pārṣṇi-ghāta-traya’ = three heel-strikes; instrumental ‘by means of’

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Virodha/avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle/निपात: ‘but/indeed’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: apasarpantu; oṃ; astrāya phaṭ

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a Shaiva method of purification and protection: by commanding obstructive forces to depart, invoking Oṃ, and sealing the rite with the astra-mantra “phaṭ,” the aspirant safeguards worship so it remains oriented to Śiva (Pati) rather than disturbed by pasha-like impediments.

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

Before Linga-pūjā and other Saguna Śiva rites, the space and mind are ritually protected; “Oṃ” and the astra-phaṭ act as a boundary of Śiva’s śakti so the offering is performed without interference, maintaining sanctity and focus on the Lord’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A brief protective act (rakṣā-vidhi): say “apasarpantu,” then chant Oṃ, then utter “astrāya phaṭ,” accompanied by three heel-strikes—used to ward off obstacles before japa, dhyāna, or pūjā.