Shloka 46

Devanagari script

समाहितेन मनसा ध्यात्वैवं परमेश्वरम् । आवाहनं स्थापनं च सन्निरोधं निरीक्षणम्

Transliteration

samāhitena manasā dhyātvaivaṃ parameśvaram | āvāhanaṃ sthāpanaṃ ca sannirodhaṃ nirīkṣaṇam

Translation

With the mind fully collected and steady, having thus meditated upon the Supreme Lord, Parameśvara, one should perform the rites of āvāhana (invocation) and sthāpana (establishing Him upon the seat or sacred emblem), followed by sannirodha (inner restraint) and nirīkṣaṇa (attentive contemplation).

Word by Word

• samāhitena: with concentrated
• samāhitena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘manasā’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्+आ+√dhā धारणे)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine (नपुंसक/पुं), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); Past participle (क्त): ‘collected, composed’

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhyātvā: having meditated
• dhyātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyātvā (कृदन्त; √dhyai ध्याने)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा): ‘having meditated’

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• parameśvaram: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaram: Karma (कर्म) (object of dhyātvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: parama+īśvara ‘Supreme Lord’

• āvāhanam: invocation (calling)
• āvāhanam: Karma (कर्म) / Item in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvāhana (प्रातिपदिक; आ+√vah वहने)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sthāpanam: establishing
• sthāpanam: Karma (कर्म) / Item in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāpana (प्रातिपदिक; √sthā स्थापने/स्थाने, causative)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• sannirodham: restraint/withdrawal
• sannirodham: Karma (कर्म) / Item in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: sannirodha (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+नि+√rudh निरोधे)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) or Neuter (नपुंसक) usage; Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirīkṣaṇam: inspection/visualization
• nirīkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म) / Item in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirīkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; निर्+√īkṣ दर्शने)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva ritual-yoga instructions as taught in the Kailāsa tradition)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship is not merely external ritual: true pūjā begins with samāhita-manas (one-pointed mind), then proceeds through invocation and establishment, culminating in inner restraint and contemplative seeing—aligning the devotee (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) by loosening bondage (pāśa).

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

Āvāhana and sthāpana describe the formal approach to Saguna worship—inviting and establishing Parameśvara in the liṅga or altar—while sannirodha and nirīkṣaṇa indicate that the devotee must simultaneously internalize the presence of Shiva through yogic recollection and steady contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dhyāna first, then āvāhana and sthāpana in liṅga-pūjā; afterward practice sannirodha (withdrawing distractions) and nirīkṣaṇa (steady contemplative attention), ideally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and a calm, disciplined posture.