Shloka 31

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्क्रमे महादेवि विशेषः कोऽपि कथ्यते । उपदेशदिने लिंगम्पूजितं गुरुणा सह

Transliteration

tasminkrame mahādevi viśeṣaḥ ko'pi kathyate | upadeśadine liṃgampūjitaṃ guruṇā saha

Translation

O Mahādevī, in that prescribed procedure a special point is taught: on the day of initiation, the Liṅga should be worshipped together with the Guru.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• क्रमे: in the procedure/sequence
• क्रमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• महादेवि: O Mahādevī
• महादेवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (great goddess)

• विशेषः: a special point
• विशेषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कः: what/which
• कः: Karta (कर्ता) (interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अपि: some/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/समुच्चय/अन्वर्थक (enclitic particle: even/also/some)

• कथ्यते: is said/taught
• कथ्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive/कर्मणि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• उपदेश-दिने: on the instruction day
• उपदेश-दिने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (on the day of instruction)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive participle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• पूजितम्: worshipped
• पूजितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया) (participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गुरुणा: by the guru
• गुरुणा: Kartr̥ (कर्ता) (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक उपसर्ग-निपात (postposition/adverb: with)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames dīkṣā/upadeśa as the threshold where the bound soul (paśu) is connected to Śiva through the Guru and Liṅga; emphasizes grace mediated by the preceptor.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Guru
• Linga

FAQs

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

It establishes that in Śaiva practice the Guru and the Śiva-liṅga are honored together at initiation, highlighting that grace (anugraha) flows through proper transmission and right worship of Pati (Śiva).

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

The liṅga is the accessible saguna focus for devotion and ritual; worshipping it on the initiation day underlines that the disciple is formally anchored in Śiva-upāsanā through the Guru’s guidance and authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform initiation-day liṅga-pūjā in the Guru’s presence—offering water, flowers, and mantra-japa (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as directed by the Guru.