Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

साष्टांगम्प्रणमेत्तं स भक्त्या परमयान्वितः । पुनः प्रदक्षिणां कृत्वा प्रणमेत्पुनरेकधा

Transliteration

sāṣṭāṃgampraṇamettaṃ sa bhaktyā paramayānvitaḥ | punaḥ pradakṣiṇāṃ kṛtvā praṇametpunarekadhā

Translation

Endowed with supreme devotion, he should bow to Him with the eight-limbed prostration. Then, having again performed circumambulation, he should once more bow down in reverence.

Word by Word

• sa-aṣṭāṅgam: with eight limbs (prostration)
• sa-aṣṭāṅgam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + aṣṭāṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (सह/समेतार्थे ‘स’ + aṣṭāṅgam); क्रियाविशेषणत्वेन (adverbial)

• praṇamet: should bow/prostrate
• praṇamet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ṇam (नम् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• paramayā: supreme
• paramayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘भक्त्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• anvitaḥ: endowed (with)
• anvitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-i (इ धातु) + anvita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘युक्तः/समन्वितः’

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: again)

• pradakṣiṇām: circumambulation
• pradakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + kṛtvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having done’

• praṇamet: should bow
• praṇamet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ṇam (नम् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (again)

• ekadhā: once / in one manner
• ekadhā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: in one way/once)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the core temple etiquette of Śiva-bhakti—sāṣṭāṅga-namaskāra and pradakṣiṇā—held to purify the devotee’s approach and make the mind fit for grace (anugraha).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that true Śaiva devotion is expressed through humility and surrender—full-bodied prostration and reverent circumambulation—outer acts that cultivate inner egolessness and single-pointed bhakti toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Pradakṣiṇā and sāṣṭāṅga-namaskāra are classic upacāras of Liṅga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship: the devotee honors Śiva as the living Lord present in the emblem (Liṅga) and approaches Him through embodied reverence, aligning body and mind with devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform sāṣṭāṅga praṇāma, then pradakṣiṇā (clockwise circumambulation), and bow again—ideally with the mind fixed on Śiva (often supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and the attitude of surrender).