Shloka 41

Ekādaśāhna-vidhiḥ (The Rite Prescribed for the Eleventh Day): Maṇḍala-racanā, Āvāhana, Mudrā, and Ativāhika-devatā Pūjā

Devanagari script

रक्षार्थमेव सर्वत्र विष्णोः पूजाविधिः स्मृतः । कुर्य्याद्विष्णोर्महापूजां पायसान्नं निवेदयेत्

Transliteration

rakṣārthameva sarvatra viṣṇoḥ pūjāvidhiḥ smṛtaḥ | kuryyādviṣṇormahāpūjāṃ pāyasānnaṃ nivedayet

Translation

Pour la seule protection, la procédure de culte de Viṣṇu est prescrite partout. On doit accomplir le grand culte de Viṣṇu et lui offrir du riz au lait sucré comme offrande alimentaire.

Word by Word

• rakṣā-artham: for protection
• rakṣā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अर्थ-शब्दः), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘रक्षायाः अर्थः’ = for protection)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: everywhere)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• pūjā-vidhiḥ: the procedure of worship
• pūjā-vidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘पूजायाः विधिः’ = rule/method of worship)

• smṛtaḥ: is declared/remembered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate: ‘is said/remembered’)

• kuryāt: one should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Prescription)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• mahā-pūjām: great worship
• mahā-pūjām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘महती पूजā’ = great worship)

• pāyasa-annam: sweet milk-rice (pāyasa) offering
• pāyasa-annam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘पायस-रूपम् अन्नम्’ = rice/food in sweet milk)

• nivedayet: one should offer/present
• nivedayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Prescription)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vid (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita teaching to the sages, conveying the Purana’s ritual instruction)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse gives a protective (rakṣā) ancillary rite: worship of Viṣṇu as part of a broader Śaiva ritual regimen, reflecting Purāṇic/Smārta integration where Viṣṇu-pūjā functions as upāṅga for averting obstacles.

Significance: Protection (rakṣā) and obstacle-removal as a preparatory/auxiliary merit supporting successful completion of the main observance.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse frames protective rites (rakṣā) as a legitimate, dharmic support to spiritual life: worldly safety is maintained through prescribed worship, so the seeker can pursue Shiva-oriented sādhanā with steadiness and fewer obstacles.

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

From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, Shiva remains the supreme Pati, while other deities can be honored for specific functions within dharma. This verse highlights a functional, protective worship of Viṣṇu without displacing the centrality of Saguna Shiva/Linga-upāsanā in the broader Shaiva path.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A protective mahā-pūjā to Viṣṇu with naivedya of pāyasānna (sweet milk-rice). As a practical takeaway, perform the worship with purity and devotion; then continue one’s primary Shaiva practice (e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī) with a protected mind and environment.