Shloka 130

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

साधकः पंचलक्षान्ते शिवप्रीत्यर्थमेव हि । महाभिषेक नैवेद्यं कृत्वा भक्तांश्च पूजयेत्

Transliteration

sādhakaḥ paṃcalakṣānte śivaprītyarthameva hi | mahābhiṣeka naivedyaṃ kṛtvā bhaktāṃśca pūjayet

Translation

When the practitioner completes five lakhs of mantra-japa, solely for the delight of Lord Śiva, he should perform the great ablution (mahābhiṣeka), offer naivedya (consecrated food), and also honor and worship Śiva’s devotees.

Word by Word

• साधकः: the practitioner
• साधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्; विशेषण

• लक्ष: a lakh (100,000)
• लक्ष: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (in compound sense: of lakhs)

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• शिव: of Śiva
• शिव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (in compound)

• प्रीति: pleasure, satisfaction
• प्रीति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (in compound)

• अर्थम्: for the sake/purpose
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात

• महाभिषेक: great consecratory bathing
• महाभिषेक: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् अभिषेकः)

• नैवेद्यम्: food offering
• नैवेद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• भक्तान्: devotees
• भक्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• पूजयेत्: should worship/honor
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Prescribes a completion-rite after japa: mahābhiṣeka and honoring bhaktas—key Siddhānta markers of bhakti expressed through kriyā (ritual) and saṅga (devotee-service).

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

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 mantra-sādhanā must culminate in devotion expressed through worship—offering to Śiva and honoring His devotees—showing that grace (anugraha) is sought not by count alone but by bhakti and humility.

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

Mahābhiṣeka and naivedya are classic forms of saguna upāsanā centered on the Śiva-liṅga, where the formless (nirguṇa) Lord is approached through a sacred form and ritual acts performed with reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Complete the prescribed japa (commonly understood as five lakh repetitions, often of the Pañcākṣarī), then perform mahābhiṣeka, offer naivedya, and worship/serve Śiva’s devotees as part of the sādhanā’s completion.