Shloka 70

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

माषैः प्रियंगुभिर्मुद्गैस्सप्तधान्यैस्तथाथवा । शंखीपुष्पैर्बिल्वपत्रैः पूजयेत्परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

māṣaiḥ priyaṃgubhirmudgaissaptadhānyaistathāthavā | śaṃkhīpuṣpairbilvapatraiḥ pūjayetparameśvaram

Translation

One should worship Parameśvara (Lord Śiva) by offering māṣa (black gram), priyaṅgu grain, mudga (green gram), and the seven kinds of grains; or else by offering śaṃkhī flowers and bilva leaves. Such simple, sattvic offerings, made with devotion, please the Lord who grants grace and liberation.

Word by Word

• māṣaiḥ: with black-gram beans
• māṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• priyaṅgubhiḥ: with priyaṅgu grains
• priyaṅgubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyaṅgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mudgaiḥ: with mung beans
• mudgaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sapta-dhānyaiḥ: with the seven grains
• sapta-dhānyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक) + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• tathā: thus/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), समुच्चय/विकल्पसूचक (connector)

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• śaṃkhī-puṣpaiḥ: with śaṃkhī flowers
• śaṃkhī-puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkhī (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (flowers of śaṃkhī)

• bilva-patraiḥ: with bilva leaves
• bilva-patraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (leaves of bilva)

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• parameśvaram: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes accessible offerings (grains, flowers, bilva) as valid Śiva-upacāra: even simple, sattvic materials offered with devotion become a conduit for anugraha, loosening pāśa and orienting the paśu toward liberation.

Shakti Dimension

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 Śiva is pleased by sincere bhakti expressed through pure, accessible offerings—grains, flowers, and especially bilva leaves—showing that inner devotion, not extravagance, is central to receiving Śiva’s grace (anugraha) leading toward liberation.

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

The recommended offerings are standard upacāras of Liṅga-pūjā in Saguna worship: honoring Śiva’s manifest presence (arcā) with bilva leaves and flowers while remembering him as Parameśvara, the supreme reality beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā by offering bilva leaves (or grains/flowers) with a steady mind and devotion; accompany the offering with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as the inner act of surrender.