Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

उपचारैः षोडशभिः पूजया शिवयोगिनाम् । सालोक्यादिक्रमेणैव शुद्धो मुक्तिं लभेन्नरः

Transliteration

upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ pūjayā śivayoginām | sālokyādikrameṇaiva śuddho muktiṃ labhennaraḥ

Translation

By worshipping Śiva with the sixteen offerings (ṣoḍaśopacāra), in the manner taught by the Śiva-yogins, a person becomes purified and—progressing through sālokya and the other grades—attains liberation.

Word by Word

• उपचारैः: with services/offerings
• उपचारैः: करण (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करणार्थे (instrumental)

• षोडशभिः: with sixteen
• षोडशभिः: विशेषण (of upacāraiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (qualifying upacāraiḥ)

• पूजया: by worship
• पूजया: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करणार्थे

• शिवयोगिनाम्: of the Śiva-yogins
• शिवयोगिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-सम्भाव्य): शिवस्य योगिनः/शिवयोगिनः; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• सालोक्यादि: beginning with sālokya (etc.)
• सालोक्यादि: सम्बन्ध (in compound with krameṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स-लोक्य-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: सालोक्यं च आदि (आदिशब्देन सान्निध्यादि-ग्रहणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• क्रमेण: in sequence/stepwise
• क्रमेण: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; प्रकार/क्रम-निर्देशे (instrumental of manner)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• शुद्धः: purified
• शुद्धः: विशेषण (of naraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying naraḥ)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लभेत्: would attain
• लभेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the teaching of the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes liberation through proper Śiva-pūjā (ṣoḍaśopacāra) as a purificatory means leading through graded mukti (sālokya etc.).

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined Śiva-pūjā (not mere external ritual) purifies the devotee and matures into liberation, often described as a graded ascent beginning with sālokya and culminating in mukti.

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

The sixteen offerings are the standard method of honoring Saguna Śiva as accessible through the Liṅga; through reverent upacāras the mind becomes Śiva-oriented, enabling the devotee to transcend limitation and approach liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ṣoḍaśopacāra Śiva-pūjā with yogic inwardness—offering with mantra and steady attention—so the external worship becomes internal union; this aligns naturally with Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) japa where applicable.