Shloka 32

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

एवं रूपांश्च वै देवांस्तर्पयेदर्थसिद्धये । ब्रह्मार्पणं ततः कृत्वा शुद्धाचमनमाचरेत्

Transliteration

evaṃ rūpāṃśca vai devāṃstarpayedarthasiddhaye | brahmārpaṇaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā śuddhācamanamācaret

Translation

Thus, in these prescribed forms, one should offer tarpaṇa (water-oblations of satisfaction) to the deities for the attainment of one’s intended purpose. Then, having performed it as brahmārpaṇa—an offering to Brahman (the Supreme)—one should undertake pure ācamana (ritual sipping of water for inner and outer purification).

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• रूपान्: forms
• रूपान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (as 'रूपाणि' → sandhi/metrical 'रूपान्' in some recensions); कर्मपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libations to
• तर्पयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative sense) 'तर्पयति' = satisfies/offers libation

• अर्थ-सिद्धये: for the attainment of the desired result
• अर्थ-सिद्धये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative of purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (purpose-related); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; 'अर्थस्य सिद्धिः' → 'अर्थसिद्धिः'

• ब्रह्म-अर्पणम्: offering to Brahman
• ब्रह्म-अर्पणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'ब्रह्मणः अर्पणम्' (offering to Brahman)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक (then/thereafter)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Gerundial subordinate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having done'

• शुद्ध-आचमनम्: pure sipping (ācamana)
• शुद्ध-आचमनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'शुद्धं आचमनम्'

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed procedure of Śiva-worship as taught in the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Tarpaṇa and brahmārpaṇa cultivate deva-tṛpti and īśvara-prasāda, aligning personal aims (artha-siddhi) with dedication to the Supreme—an ethical purification preceding Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritual acts like tarpaṇa should be done with a higher intention—dedicating the action to the Supreme (brahmārpaṇa)—and completed with purification (ācamana), aligning outer worship with inner Shaiva discipline.

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

In Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship, auxiliary rites (devatā-tarpaṇa, purification) support the main Śiva-upāsanā by removing obstacles and establishing śuddhi; the brahmārpaṇa attitude ensures the worship culminates in devotion to the Supreme Lord beyond mere ritualism.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform devatā-tarpaṇa as prescribed, then do śuddhācamanam for purity, and mentally dedicate the entire rite as brahmārpaṇa—offering the fruits and the doership to the Supreme while continuing Śiva-pūjā/mantra-japa.