Shloka 76

Devanagari script

महानैवेद्यमेतद्वै देवतार्पणपूर्वकम् । वर्णानुक्रमपूर्वेण तद्भक्तेभ्यः प्रदापयेत्

Transliteration

mahānaivedyametadvai devatārpaṇapūrvakam | varṇānukramapūrveṇa tadbhaktebhyaḥ pradāpayet

Translation

This indeed is the great naivedya, the sacred food-offering. Having first offered it properly to the deities, one should then distribute it to the devotees of that Lord, in the proper order of the varṇas.

Word by Word

• महानैवेद्यम्: great offering (naivedya)
• महानैवेद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय: 'great (as) naivedya'

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात), emphatic

• देवतार्पण-पूर्वकम्: preceded by offering to the deities
• देवतार्पण-पूर्वकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्पण (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'preceded by offering to the deities'

• वर्ण-अनुक्रम-पूर्वेण: in the sequence of letters (in due order)
• वर्ण-अनुक्रम-पूर्वेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'by/with (the procedure) preceded by the order of letters'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter; used as demonstrative in compound formation

• भक्तेभ्यः: to the devotees
• भक्तेभ्यः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th—चतुर्थी), Plural

• प्रदापयेत्: should give/distribute
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√दा (धातु)
• Form: Optative/benedictive (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; causative nuance not intended here; 'should give'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vidyeshvara/Viśveśvara teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s worship culture strongly emphasizes devatārpaṇa (offering first to the deity) and then prasāda-vitarana (distribution). The verse frames mahānaivedya as consecrated only after divine offering, then to be shared among devotees.

Significance: Prasāda distribution is a social-sacral extension of pūjā: it binds the community of bhaktas and is treated as a vehicle of Śiva’s grace (anugraha) rather than mere food.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not only by offering to the Divine, but also by honoring Śiva’s devotees with consecrated prasāda—turning ritual into compassionate service (sevā) that purifies the heart and supports bhakti.

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

In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, naivedya is offered to Śiva as the living Lord present in the liṅga; after that offering, the same sanctified food becomes prasāda, to be shared with His devotees as an extension of the puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform naivedya after proper devatārpaṇa (due offering), then distribute Śiva-prasāda respectfully among devotees; the practical takeaway is disciplined puja followed by prasāda-sevā as a daily bhakti practice.