Shloka 16

Śivarātri-vrata Udyāpana-vidhi

Completion Rite for the Śivarātri Observance

Devanagari script

गां सवत्सां विधानेन यथोपस्करसंयुताम् । उक्त्वाचार्याय वै दद्याच्छिवो मे प्रीयतामिति

Transliteration

gāṃ savatsāṃ vidhānena yathopaskarasaṃyutām | uktvācāryāya vai dadyācchivo me prīyatāmiti

Translation

According to the prescribed rite, one should offer to the ācārya a cow along with her calf, properly furnished with the requisite accessories, saying: “May Lord Śiva be pleased with me.”

Word by Word

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• सवत्साम्: with a calf
• सवत्साम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-वत्स (प्रातिपदिक; वत्स)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गाम्)

• विधानेन: by the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/according as)

• उपस्कर-संयुताम्: furnished with the requisite implements
• उपस्कर-संयुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपस्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त; √युज्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-प्रत्यय (क्त), विशेषणम् (गाम्)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• आचार्याय: to the teacher (preceptor)
• आचार्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रीयताम्: may (he) be pleased
• प्रीयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्री (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivo me prīyatām iti

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Acharya

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Śiva is strengthened through dharmic giving and humility—honoring the ācārya and offering charity as an act of surrender, praying for Śiva’s grace rather than worldly gain.

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

In Saguna Śiva worship, ritual observances are supported by right conduct (ācāra). Offering guru-dakṣiṇā and dāna after worship aligns the devotee’s outer ritual with inner bhakti, making the Linga-pūjā complete in spirit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A prescribed dāna: gifting a cow with her calf, properly prepared, to the ācārya while reciting the intention “May Śiva be pleased with me,” as a concluding act of worship and merit.