Shloka 26

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

त्रिरुच्चार्याग्रहीन्मंत्रं यंत्रतंत्रोक्तिपूर्वकम् । शिष्यौ च तौ दक्षिणायामात्मानं च समर्पयत्

Transliteration

triruccāryāgrahīnmaṃtraṃ yaṃtrataṃtroktipūrvakam | śiṣyau ca tau dakṣiṇāyāmātmānaṃ ca samarpayat

Translation

After uttering the mantra three times, he duly received it in accordance with the injunctions of yantra and tantra. Then, placing those two disciples to his right, he surrendered himself as well, in humble dedication.

Word by Word

• triḥ: three times
• triḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: triḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, संख्यावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thrice)

• uccārya: having recited
• uccārya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√car (चर्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having uttered/recited)

• agrahīt: took/received
• agrahīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (ग्रह्) (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Imperfect, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

• maṃtram: the mantra
• maṃtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• yaṃtra-taṃtra-ukti-pūrvakam: preceded by the statements of yantra and tantra
• yaṃtra-taṃtra-ukti-pūrvakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaṃtra (प्रातिपदिक) + taṃtra (प्रातिपदिक) + ukti (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (…उक्तिपूर्वकम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मन्त्रं’ इति विशेषणम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying ‘maṃtram’)

• śiṣyau: the two disciples
• śiṣyau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), द्विवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Dual)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative, Dual)

• dakṣiṇāyām: on the right side / in the south
• dakṣiṇāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (Feminine, Locative, Singular)

• ātmānam: himself/self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• samarpayat: offered/surrendered
• samarpayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√arp (अर्प्) (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Imperfect, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, describing the guru’s initiation procedure)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śaiva mantra is not mere sound but a consecrated transmission: recited thrice for firmness and purity, received according to scriptural method, and sealed by ātma-samarpana—humble surrender that aligns the soul (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati).

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

The mention of yantra–tantra procedure points to formal Śaiva worship where Saguna Śiva is approached through regulated rites—often centered on the Liṅga—so that mantra, ritual geometry (yantra), and liturgy (tantra) work together to steady devotion and awaken grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa with triple recitation, performed strictly as taught by the guru and śāstra; additionally, adopting ātma-samarpana (inner dedication) as the meditative attitude that accompanies external ritual.