Shloka 21

Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ

On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering

Devanagari script

नैवेद्यनिर्णयः प्रोक्तं इत्थं वो मुनिसत्तमाः । शृणुध्वं बिल्वमाहात्म्यं सावधानतयाऽदरात्

Transliteration

naivedyanirṇayaḥ proktaṃ itthaṃ vo munisattamāḥ | śṛṇudhvaṃ bilvamāhātmyaṃ sāvadhānatayā'darāt

Translation

Thus, O best of sages, the proper rule regarding the offering of naivedya has been explained to you. Now, with attentive care and reverence, listen to the greatness of the Bilva leaves used in the worship of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• नैवेद्यनिर्णयः: the decision/rule regarding naivedya (food offering)
• नैवेद्यनिर्णयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य + निर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (Genitive Tatpurusha): नैवेद्यस्य निर्णयः

• प्रोक्तम्: has been declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said/declared’

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वः: to you / of you
• वः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th) वा चतुर्थी (Dative/4th) बहुवचन (Plural); एन्क्लिटिक रूप (enclitic)

• मुनिसत्तमाः: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address; syntactically subject-address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मुनीनां सत्तमाः

• शृणुध्वम्: listen (you all)
• शृणुध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• बिल्वमाहात्म्यम्: the greatness/glory of the bilva tree
• बिल्वमाहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: बिल्वस्य माहात्म्यम्

• सावधानतया: with attentiveness
• सावधानतया: Karana (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावधानता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• अदरात्: out of respect
• अदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause; ablative of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (usage varies), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); ‘अदर’ = respect

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: A didactic pivot in the Kāśī-centered teaching: after settling naivedya rules, the text turns to bilva-māhātmya—bilva as a premier offering in Śiva worship.

Significance: Frames correct ritual discernment (nirṇaya) as supportive of deeper devotion; prepares devotees for bilva-based worship practices.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse marks a transition from external ritual correctness (naivedya rules) to the inner attitude of worship—attentive, reverent listening and devotion—highlighting that Śiva is pleased by mindful bhakti expressed through sacred offerings like Bilva.

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

It frames Bilva-māhātmya as a key element of Saguna Śiva worship, where the devotee honors the Śiva-liṅga with prescribed offerings; such disciplined pūjā, done with ādarā (reverence), supports purification and steadiness of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice attentive (sāvadhāna) Śiva-pūjā by offering naivedya according to rule and then offering Bilva leaves with reverence, maintaining focused awareness of Śiva while reciting His names or the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).