Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

नैरृते तु यजेत्खड्गम्पाशं वरुणगोचरे । अंकुशं मारुते भागे पिनाकं चोत्तरे यजेत्

Transliteration

nairṛte tu yajetkhaḍgampāśaṃ varuṇagocare | aṃkuśaṃ mārute bhāge pinākaṃ cottare yajet

Translation

In the south‑western direction one should worship the sword; in Varuṇa’s quarter one should worship the noose. In the region of Vāyu one should worship the goad, and in the northern direction one should worship Pināka (Śiva’s bow).

Word by Word

• nairṛte: in the Nairṛta (southwest) direction
• nairṛte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नैऋत-दिक् (southwest direction)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विशेषणार्थक-निपात

• yajet: should worship
• yajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘he should worship/sacrifice’

• khaḍgam: the sword
• khaḍgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pāśam: the noose
• pāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• varuṇa-gocare: in the Varuṇa (western) quarter
• varuṇa-gocare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + gocara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘वरुणस्य गोचरे’ (in Varuṇa’s domain = west)

• aṃkuśam: the goad
• aṃkuśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃkuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mārute: in the Māruta (northwest) direction
• mārute: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मारुत-दिक् (northwest direction)

• bhāge: in the region
• bhāge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भागे’ = in the region/portion

• pinākam: Pināka (Śiva’s bow)
• pinākam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pināka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• uttare: in the northern direction
• uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उत्तर-दिक् (north direction)

• yajet: should worship
• yajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Varuna
• Vayu

FAQs

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

It teaches dik-pūjā (directional sanctification) by honoring Śiva’s divine implements in specific quarters, symbolizing that Pati (Śiva) pervades and governs all directions, while the devotee brings the senses and mind under sacred order.

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

While the Liṅga points to the transcendent (nirguṇa) reality of Śiva, this verse supports saguna upāsanā by worshiping Śiva’s attributes—Pināka, pāśa, aṅkuśa, and khaḍga—as ritual supports that focus devotion and discipline around the Liṅga/Śiva in a consecrated space.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests performing directional worship (dik-nyāsa/dik-pūjā) in the altar/mandala: mentally or ritually placing and honoring the sword, noose, goad, and Pināka in their prescribed quarters, ideally alongside mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and steady meditative attention.