Shloka 16

Mahādāna-prakaraṇa (The Doctrine of Great Gifts): Suvarṇa–Go–Bhūmi and Tulā-dāna

Devanagari script

पद्ममष्टदलं कृत्वा कुंकुमाक्ताक्षतैश्शुभैः । पूजयेत्तत्र रुद्रादीन्सर्वान्देवान्सुभक्तितः

Transliteration

padmamaṣṭadalaṃ kṛtvā kuṃkumāktākṣataiśśubhaiḥ | pūjayettatra rudrādīnsarvāndevānsubhaktitaḥ

Translation

Having fashioned an eight-petaled lotus (maṇḍala), and using auspicious unbroken rice grains anointed with saffron, one should worship there—beginning with Rudra—all the deities, with sincere devotion.

Word by Word

• पद्मम्: lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अष्टदलम्: eight-petalled
• अष्टदलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (अष्टानि दलानि यस्य तत्)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• कुङ्कुमाक्त-अक्षतैः: with rice-grains anointed with saffron
• कुङ्कुमाक्त-अक्षतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम + अक्त (कृदन्त) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावेन तत्पुरुषः (कुङ्कुमेन अक्ताः अक्षताः)

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (अक्षतैः)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• रुद्रादीन्: Rudra and others
• रुद्रादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रः आदिः येषां ते)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (देवान्)

• देवान्: gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सु-भक्तितः: with good devotion / devoutly
• सु-भक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Uma Samhita’s instructional discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Mandala-worship centered on Rudra sacralizes the rite; devotion (bhakti) is foregrounded as the inner condition for Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that ordered worship (vidhi) rooted in devotion (bhakti) purifies the practitioner: by placing Rudra first, the worship is aligned to Pati (Lord Shiva) as the inner Lord, and the honoring of all devas becomes harmonized rather than scattered.

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

The lotus-maṇḍala and offerings are outward supports for Saguna worship—helping the mind rest in reverence. Beginning with Rudra reflects the Shaiva view that all divine functions are fulfilled through Shiva, and thus Linga/Śiva worship integrates the reverence of all deities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Create an eight-petaled lotus diagram, offer kumkuma-tinted akṣata, and worship with focused devotion—ideally accompanied by Shiva-mantra japa (such as the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady attention while performing puja.