Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

परमान्नेन संपूज्य यथाविभवविस्तरम् । रुद्रा क्षवस्त्रपूर्वं च वटकापूपकैर्युतम्

Transliteration

paramānnena saṃpūjya yathāvibhavavistaram | rudrā kṣavastrapūrvaṃ ca vaṭakāpūpakairyutam

Translation

Worship Śiva with the finest offering of cooked rice, extending the service according to your means. Begin with proper garments and Rudrākṣa, and present it together with vadas and sweet cakes (apūpas).

Word by Word

• परम-अन्नेन: with excellent food (paramānna)
• परम-अन्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमं च तत् अन्नम्)

• सम्-पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्-पूज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘पूज्य’; अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया

• यथा-विभव-विस्तरम्: according to one’s capacity, in due extent
• यथा-विभव-विस्तरम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विभव (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; अव्ययत्वेन प्रयोगः (adverbial) — ‘according to one’s means/extent’

• रुद्रान्: the Rudras (Rudra-deities)
• रुद्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• क्ष-वस्त्र-पूर्वम्: with cloth/linen first (as the initial offering)
• क्ष-वस्त्र-पूर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘क्ष’ (linen/cloth) + वस्त्र; ‘पूर्व’ = ‘preceded by/with first’

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

• वटक-आपूपकैः: with vataḳas and small cakes (āpūpakas)
• वटक-आपूपकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वटक (प्रातिपदिक) + आपूपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (वटकाः च आपूपकाः च)

• युतम्: accompanied/combined (with)
• युतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘युक्त’ = ‘endowed/combined with’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-worship procedures to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As this is within the Viśveśvara-saṃhitā, the ritual framing naturally aligns with Kāśī Viśvanātha: worship of the Lord of the universe through naivedya and upacāras, promising upliftment and grace to householders according to capacity (yathāvibhava).

Significance: Merit through proper upacāra-pūjā and naivedya offered with devotion; supports gradual purification (mala-kṣaya) and eligibility for higher sādhana.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pūjā should be performed sincerely and proportionate to one’s capacity, emphasizing devotion expressed through pure offerings (naivedya) and disciplined ritual order.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship through tangible upacāras—clothing, Rudrākṣa, and food offerings—typically presented to the Śiva-liṅga as a sanctified form accessible to devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests orderly pūjā: begin with appropriate attire and Rudrākṣa (as marks of Śaiva discipline), then offer naivedya such as paramānna along with vaṭaka and apūpa as part of devotional service.