Shloka 22

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

रान्तंपान्तं तथा ज्ञान्तं लान्तं लान्तमपूर्वकम् । षान्तं सान्तञ्च वेदाद्यं श्रीबीजञ्च दशक्रमात्

Transliteration

rāntaṃpāntaṃ tathā jñāntaṃ lāntaṃ lāntamapūrvakam | ṣāntaṃ sāntañca vedādyaṃ śrībījañca daśakramāt

Translation

In the tenfold sequence, one should take the syllables ending with rā, with pā, and with jñā; then the syllable ending with lā, and again the syllable ending with lā in a special, unprecedented manner; and the syllables ending with ṣā and with sā; along with the Vedic primordial syllable “Oṃ”, and also the auspicious “Śrī” seed—thus, in tenfold order.

Word by Word

• रान्तम्: the 'rānta' (mantric syllable/ending)
• रान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रान्त (प्रातिपदिक; बीज/वर्ण-समूह-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पान्तम्: the 'pānta'
• पान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान्त (प्रातिपदिक; बीज/वर्ण-समूह-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक (adverb: 'also/likewise')

• ज्ञान्तम्: the 'jñānta'
• ज्ञान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान्त (प्रातिपदिक; बीज/वर्ण-समूह-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लान्तम्: the 'lānta'
• लान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लान्त (प्रातिपदिक; बीज/वर्ण-समूह-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लान्तम्: the 'lānta' (again)
• लान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लान्त (प्रातिपदिक; बीज/वर्ण-समूह-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपूर्वकम्: without a preceding (one)/without prefix
• अपूर्वकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the preceding item)

• षान्तम्: the 'ṣānta'
• षान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षान्त (प्रातिपदिक; बीज/वर्ण-समूह-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सान्तम्: the 'sānta'
• सान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्त (प्रातिपदिक; बीज/वर्ण-समूह-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• वेदाद्यम्: that which begins with the Veda (Veda etc.)
• वेदाद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: वेदाद्य (तत्पुरुष; 'beginning with the Veda'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रीबीजम्: the Śrī-bīja (mantric seed)
• श्रीबीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: श्रीबीज (तत्पुरुष), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• दश-क्रमात्: according to the tenfold sequence
• दश-क्रमात्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: दशक्रम (तत्पुरुष; 'tenfold sequence'), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रीत्यर्थे (according to the tenfold order)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Implied bīja-sequence) rā… pā… jñā… lā… lā (apūrva)… ṣā… sā… oṃ… śrī… (daśa-krama)

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It outlines a structured, tenfold arrangement of sacred phonemes (including Oṃ and Śrī-bīja), indicating that disciplined mantra-sequence and sound-contemplation are valid supports for turning the bound soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) and loosening bondage (pāśa).

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

Such bīja- and praṇava-based sequences are typically applied as ancillary mantra-anga in Saguna Shiva worship—used for nyāsa, japa, and ritual sanctification—so the devotee’s mind becomes fit to perceive Shiva’s presence in the Liṅga while progressing toward deeper, more inward realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mantra-japa in a prescribed order (daśa-krama), beginning with praṇava (Oṃ) and including Śrī-bīja, performed with steadiness and purity—often alongside Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and focused meditation on Shiva.