Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

आत्मानं गंधपुष्पादिपूजोपकरणानि च । प्राणायामत्रयं कृत्वा ऋष्यादिकमथाचरेत्

Transliteration

ātmānaṃ gaṃdhapuṣpādipūjopakaraṇāni ca | prāṇāyāmatrayaṃ kṛtvā ṛṣyādikamathācaret

Translation

Having purified oneself and the implements of worship—sandal, flowers, and the rest—one should perform the threefold prāṇāyāma; then one should undertake the preliminary observances, beginning with the ṛṣi (invocation/nyāsa) and the related rites.

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: oneself / the self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• गन्ध-पुष्प-आदि-पूजा-उपकरणानि: implements for worship such as fragrance and flowers
• गन्ध-पुष्प-आदि-पूजा-उपकरणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध+पुष्प+आदि+पूजा+उपकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), बहुवचन; समास: (गन्धपुष्पादि-पूजा)-उपकरण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्राणायाम-त्रयम्: the threefold prāṇāyāma
• प्राणायाम-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम+त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done’

• ऋषि-आदिकम्: the ṛṣi etc. (ancillary details)
• ऋषि-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि+आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-puja is not merely external offering; inner purification and breath-discipline (prāṇāyāma) prepare the mind to approach Pati (Shiva) with steadiness, supporting liberation-oriented devotion in a Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

Before offering gandha and flowers to the Linga (Saguna worship), the worshipper consecrates both self and materials, then performs preliminary invocations (ṛṣi-ādika) so the ritual becomes a properly aligned, mantra-supported act of devotion to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It prescribes performing threefold prāṇāyāma prior to beginning the mantra preliminaries (ṛṣi-ādika/nyāsa), establishing calm breath and focused awareness before Shiva’s worship.