Shloka 5

Devanagari script

षट्कोणं वृत्तमेवेदं मण्डलं परिकल्पयेत् । अभ्यर्च्य गंधपुष्पाद्यैः प्रणवेनाथ मध्यतः

Transliteration

ṣaṭkoṇaṃ vṛttamevedaṃ maṇḍalaṃ parikalpayet | abhyarcya gaṃdhapuṣpādyaiḥ praṇavenātha madhyataḥ

Translation

One should ritually fashion this maṇḍala as a circle marked with a six-pointed form. Having worshipped it with sandal-paste, flowers, and the like, one should then, at its center, adore (Śiva) with the Praṇava—“Oṁ”.

Word by Word

• षट्कोणम्: a hexagon
• षट्कोणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (षट्+कोण)

• वृत्तम्: circular/round
• वृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of मण्डलम्/षट्कोणम्)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• मण्डलम्: a diagram/circle (maṇḍala)
• मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परिकल्पयेत्: should construct/arrange
• परिकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having worshipped’

• गन्धपुष्पाद्यैः: with fragrance, flowers, etc.
• गन्धपुष्पाद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + पुष्प + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘गन्ध-पुष्प-आदि’ इति समाहार/समुच्चयार्थः

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थ

• मध्यतः: in the middle/centrally
• मध्यतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘from/in the middle’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (प्रणव)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer ritual order (a consecrated maṇḍala) supports inner orientation: the devotee centers awareness on Śiva through the Praṇava, moving from symbolic form toward liberating knowledge of Pati (the Lord).

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

The maṇḍala and its center function like a sanctified seat for Saguna worship—offering fragrance and flowers while invoking Śiva through Oṁ—preparing the mind for steadiness and reverence that culminate in Linga-centered devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a circular maṇḍala with a six-pointed design, offer gandha and flowers, then focus at the center and chant the Praṇava (Oṁ) as a concentrated act of Śiva-upāsanā.