Shloka 43

Devanagari script

यः स्नापयति श्रीमातुः स्थापितां मूर्तिमुत्तमाम् । घृतेन मधुनाक्तेन तत्फलं गणयेत्तु कः

Transliteration

yaḥ snāpayati śrīmātuḥ sthāpitāṃ mūrtimuttamām | ghṛtena madhunāktena tatphalaṃ gaṇayettu kaḥ

Translation

Who could possibly measure the fruit of that act—when a person bathes (performs abhiṣeka for) the supremely excellent, duly installed image of Śrī Mātā, anointing it with ghee and honey?

Word by Word

• यः: whoever
• यः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) — सर्वनाम

• स्नापयति: bathes (causes to be bathed)
• स्नापयति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), णिजन्त (causative) — ‘causes to bathe’

• श्रीमातुः: of the revered Mother (Goddess)
• श्रीमातुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) — ‘श्रीः माता’ इति कर्मधारय; मातृ-शब्द (ṛ-stem)

• स्थापिताम्: installed
• स्थापिताम्: विशेषण (of मूर्तिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मूर्तिम्: the image
• मूर्तिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• उत्तमाम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमाम्: विशेषण (of मूर्तिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• मधुना: with honey
• मधुना: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• अक्तेन: anointed/smeared
• अक्तेन: विशेषण (of घृतेन/मधुना; instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग — ‘anointed/smeared’ (instrumental qualifier)

• तत्-फलम्: that fruit/result
• तत्-फलम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — ‘तस्य फलम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• गणयेत्: could count
• गणयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गणय् (धातु; णिजन्त from गण्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय — विशेष/विरोध

• कः: who?
• कः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) — प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya in the Uma Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not Jyotirliṅga-specific; emphasizes immeasurable merit of abhiṣeka to Śrī Mātā’s duly installed icon using ghṛta and madhu—classic auspicious substances associated with nourishment and prosperity.

Significance: Teaches that abhiṣeka to Devī is of incalculable fruit (atiphalatva), encouraging sustained temple/home worship.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It declares the immeasurable spiritual merit (puṇya) gained by performing reverent abhiṣeka to the consecrated form of Śrī Mātā (Umā/Pārvatī), emphasizing bhakti expressed through sacred service (seva).

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna worship is a valid means to approach Pati (Śiva) through sanctified forms; honoring Śrī Mātā’s installed mūrti complements Śiva/Śakti unity, just as linga-abhiṣeka honors Śiva’s accessible manifest presence for devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to mūrti-abhiṣeka using ghee and honey as offerings; performed with purity, mantra (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and devotional intent, it becomes a focused practice of bhakti and inner surrender.