Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अमंगलं भवत्येव पूजार्हाणामपूजया । पूज्यमाना च नासौ हि यतः पूज्यतमा शिवा

Transliteration

amaṃgalaṃ bhavatyeva pūjārhāṇāmapūjayā | pūjyamānā ca nāsau hi yataḥ pūjyatamā śivā

Translation

Inauspiciousness surely arises when those who are worthy of worship are not honoured. And she is not truly “being worshipped” even when worship is offered—because Śivā (the Supreme Goddess, consort of Śiva) is the most worthy of worship.

Word by Word

• अमङ्गलम्: inauspiciousness, misfortune
• अमङ्गलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवति: becomes, occurs
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• पूजार्हाणाम्: of those worthy of worship
• पूजार्हाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजा + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक), तत्पुरुष-समास (पूजायाः अर्हः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेष्य-सम्बन्धः (of those worthy of worship)

• अपूजया: by non-worship, by neglect
• अपूजया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूज्यमाना: being worshipped
• पूज्यमाना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त; वर्तमान-काल-कर्तरि/कर्मणि-प्रायः)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle, passive sense), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘being worshipped’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• असौ: that one (she/he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय; यद्-प्रभव)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ (because/since)

• पूज्यतमा: most worthy of worship
• पूज्यतमा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (superlative)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); अतिशय-विशेषण (superlative)

• शिवा: Śivā (the Goddess)
• शिवा: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Satī-khaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General principle stated within the Dakṣa-yajña narration: omission of due worship to the truly worship-worthy (Śiva/Śivā) generates amaṅgala, foreshadowing the yajña’s collapse.

Significance: Teaches hierarchy of worship (pūjyatamatā): honoring Śivā-Śakti as supreme removes inauspiciousness; neglect invites obstruction even in elaborate rites.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Śivā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that spiritual and worldly harmony (maṅgala) depends on rightly directed reverence: neglecting the truly worship-worthy brings amaṅgala, while recognizing Śiva-Śakti as supremely worship-worthy aligns one’s devotion with dharma and grace.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship—especially of the Śiva-liṅga—must be done with correct understanding and priority: the highest worship is of Śiva together with Śivā (Śakti). Mere external offering without recognizing the supreme object of worship is considered incomplete.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform daily Śiva-pūjā with right intention—offer water, bilva leaves, and recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” remembering Śiva with Śivā; avoid neglect of one’s worship duties, as disregard itself is said to generate amaṅgala.