Shloka 21

गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः

Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline

Devanagari script

अभ्यर्च्य गन्धपुष्पाद्यैर्धूपदीपौ प्रदर्श्य च । संरक्षास्त्रेण तं शंखं वर्मणाथावगुण्ठयेत्

Transliteration

abhyarcya gandhapuṣpādyairdhūpadīpau pradarśya ca | saṃrakṣāstreṇa taṃ śaṃkhaṃ varmaṇāthāvaguṇṭhayet

Translation

Habiéndolo adorado con fragancias, flores y demás, y habiendo ofrecido incienso y lámpara, protéjase esa caracola con el Mantra-Arma de Protección (saṃrakṣāstra) y cúbrase con la ‘armadura’ espiritual (kavaca), para que el rito quede resguardado y sea apto para el culto a Śiva.

Word by Word

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having worshipped’

• गन्ध-पुष्प-आद्यैः: with scents, flowers, etc.
• गन्ध-पुष्प-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + पुष्प + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); समास: गन्धपुष्पादि (fragrance, flowers, etc.)

• धूप-दीपौ: incense and lamp
• धूप-दीपौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप + दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Dual); द्वन्द्व: धूपः च दीपः च

• प्रदर्श्य: having shown/offered
• प्रदर्श्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-समानार्थक अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive sense), ‘having shown/offered’

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

• संरक्षा-स्त्रेण: with the protective weapon (mantra)
• संरक्षा-स्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संरक्षा + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular); समास: संरक्षणाय अस्त्रम् (protective weapon-mantra)

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine pronoun, Accusative, Singular)

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• वर्मणा: with (the) armor (mantra)
• वर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/now)

• अवगुण्ठयेत्: should cover/veil
• अवगुण्ठयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + गुण्ठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should cover/veil/enclose)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teachings on Śaiva ritual to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: kavaca

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is not only offering-based (flowers, incense, lamp) but also mantra-based: the worshipper safeguards the rite through saṃrakṣā-mantras, symbolizing inner purity and protection from distractions and impurity (pāśa).

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

The conch is a sanctified support-item within Saguna worship; by protecting it with kavaca and saṃrakṣāstra, the devotee ensures the external rite remains a worthy vessel for invoking Śiva’s presence in the Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform upacāras (gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa) and then recite a protective mantra (kavaca/saṃrakṣā) while mentally ‘covering’ the implement—an outer act mirroring inner mantra-guarding of attention during worship.