Shloka 9

Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ

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

Devanagari script

न यस्य शिवनैवेद्यग्रहणेच्छा प्रजायते । स पापिष्ठो गरिष्ठः स्यान्नरकं यात्यपि ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

na yasya śivanaivedyagrahaṇecchā prajāyate | sa pāpiṣṭho gariṣṭhaḥ syānnarakaṃ yātyapi dhruvam

Translation

One in whom no desire arises to accept Lord Śiva’s consecrated food-offering (naivedya) becomes the most sinful and most blameworthy; such a person surely goes to hell.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Relative pronoun, Genitive singular

• शिव-नैवेद्य-ग्रहण-इच्छा: desire to accept Śiva’s offering
• शिव-नैवेद्य-ग्रहण-इच्छा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular; ‘desire for taking Śiva’s offering’

• प्रजायते: arises
• प्रजायते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘is born/arises’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Demonstrative pronoun

• पापिष्ठः: most sinful
• पापिष्ठः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तमप्-प्रत्ययान्त (superlative)

• गरिष्ठः: most grievous/very heavy (in fault)
• गरिष्ठः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इष्ठ-प्रत्ययान्त (superlative)

• स्यात्: would be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The verse functions as a general dharma-śāsana: refusal of Śiva-prasāda signals aversion to Śiva’s grace and increases bondage, described in purāṇic idiom as naraka-gati.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that honoring Śiva’s consecrated offering (prasāda/naivedya) is a direct expression of bhakti and humility; rejecting it indicates inner aversion to Śiva’s grace, leading to demerit.

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

In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, offerings are made to Śiva and returned as prasāda; accepting it is part of completing the pūjā, acknowledging Śiva’s presence and blessing through the consecrated offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer naivedya in Śiva-pūjā and reverently partake of Śiva-prasāda as a vow of devotion; combine it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate receptivity to Śiva’s anugraha (grace).