Shloka 17

Śivarātri-vrata Udyāpana-vidhi

Completion Rite for the Śivarātri Observance

Devanagari script

तत्तस्सकुम्भां तन्मूर्तिं सवस्त्रां वृषभे स्थिताम् । सर्वालंकारसहितामाचार्याय निवेदयेत्

Transliteration

tattassakumbhāṃ tanmūrtiṃ savastrāṃ vṛṣabhe sthitām | sarvālaṃkārasahitāmācāryāya nivedayet

Translation

Thereafter, one should present to the ācārya that very icon—together with its ritual pot (kumbha)—clothed, established upon a bull, and adorned with every ornament.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Anukta (अनुक्त/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• तस्: thereupon/from that
• तस्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (from there/thereupon)

• स-कुम्भाम्: together with a pot
• स-कुम्भाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ; सह) + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मूर्तिम्)

• तत्-मूर्तिम्: that image/form
• तत्-मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• स-वस्त्राम्: with garments
• स-वस्त्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/सह) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मूर्तिम्)

• वृषभे: on the bull
• वृषभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्थिताम्: seated/placed
• स्थिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् (मूर्तिम्)

• सर्व-अलंकार-सहिताम्: accompanied by all ornaments
• सर्व-अलंकार-सहिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (कृदन्त; √सह्/√सह्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् (मूर्तिम्)

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

• निवेदयेत्: should present/offer
• निवेदयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √विद्/√वेद् (धातु; निवेदयति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative stem)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shiva-worship is completed through humility and right transmission: offerings are formally entrusted to the ācārya, honoring the guru as the ordained conduit of ritual purity and Shaiva grace (anugraha).

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

By describing a decorated mūrti placed on the bull (Nandi), it highlights Saguna-upāsanā—worship of Shiva in a sacred form—performed according to injunctions, which supports the devotee’s steadiness and devotion while pointing toward Shiva’s higher, formless reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A procedural puja step is taught: after adorning the icon (with cloth and ornaments) and arranging the kumbha, the devotee presents it to the officiating ācārya—reinforcing disciplined worship under guidance (often accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara).