Shloka 22

Devanagari script

कारयित्वा विशेषेण चतुष्कन्तो रणैर्युतम् । स्नानदानादिकं कृत्वा परीक्षामकरोत्तदा

Transliteration

kārayitvā viśeṣeṇa catuṣkanto raṇairyutam | snānadānādikaṃ kṛtvā parīkṣāmakarottadā

Translation

Then, having a specially prepared four-sided arena made and furnished with battle-gear, he performed the rites of sacred bathing, charitable giving, and the like; thereafter, at that very time, he conducted the examination.

Word by Word

• कारयित्वा: having caused (it) to be done
• कारयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कारय् (धातु √कृ, णिच् causative)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from causative; ‘having caused to be done’

• विशेषेण: especially; particularly
• विशेषेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial use ‘in a special manner’

• चतुष्कान्तः: the four-sided (one)
• चतुष्कान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: चतुष् + कान्त (four-sided/with four corners)

• रणैः: with battles/contests
• रणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• युतम्: joined; endowed (with)
• युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying an implied object

• स्नान: bathing
• स्नान: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter stem used as prior member in compound

• दान: giving; donation
• दान: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter stem used as prior member in compound

• आदिकम्: and the like
• आदिकम्: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘etc.’ as qualifier within compound

• स्नानदानादिकम्: bathing, charity, and the like
• स्नानदानादिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + दान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; itaretara-dvandva treated as a collective ‘bathing, giving, etc.’

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having done’

• परीक्षाम्: a test; examination
• परीक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• अकरोत्: did; performed
• अकरोत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A specially prepared four-sided arena with martial fittings suggests a formal trial/contest as part of the narrative’s ceremonial progression; it is not framed as a Jyotirliṅga episode.

Significance: Emphasizes dharma-tested worthiness: purification (snāna), generosity (dāna), and examination before receiving higher auspiciousness—an ethical-ritual precondition to grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It shows that major undertakings should be preceded by śuddhi (purification) and dharma—snāna and dāna—so that action is aligned with devotion and right order, supporting a Shaiva path where outer discipline steadies inner bhakti.

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

The emphasis on preparatory rites mirrors Shaiva practice before approaching Saguna Shiva in pūjā—purifying oneself, offering charity, and then proceeding to the intended act—reflecting reverence and readiness to receive Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform snāna (ritual bath) and dāna (charitable offering) as preliminaries; in Shaiva usage, this can be paired with simple japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady intention before any vow or test.