Shloka 53

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

मरीचिसर्षपाद्यानां शाकोपकरणं तथा । यदृतौ यत्फलं सिद्धं तद्देयं हि विपश्चिता

Transliteration

marīcisarṣapādyānāṃ śākopakaraṇaṃ tathā | yadṛtau yatphalaṃ siddhaṃ taddeyaṃ hi vipaścitā

Translation

De même, il convient d’offrir les assaisonnements et préparations faits de poivre, de moutarde et d’ingrédients semblables ; et quel que soit le fruit qui mûrit naturellement en sa saison et se trouve alors disponible, c’est bien celui-là que le sage doit donner en offrande dans le culte.

Word by Word

• मरीचि-सरषप-आद्यानाम्: of pepper, mustard, etc.
• मरीचि-सरषप-आद्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि + सरषप + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine) — ‘...of marīci, mustard, etc.’; समासः: मरीचिसरषपादयः (इति) तेषाम्

• शाक-उपकरणम्: vegetable preparation
• शाक-उपकरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक + उपकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); ‘vegetable-preparation/side-dish’

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), अव्यय-प्रकारः: समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ (adverb/conjunctive: ‘also/likewise’)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘whatever/which’ (correlative to तत्)

• ऋतौ: in the season
• ऋतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘whatever/which’

• फलम्: fruit; produce
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• सिद्धम्: available; ready
• सिद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिध् (धातु) → सिद्ध (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘accomplished/available/ready’ (qualifies फलम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — correlative ‘that’

• देयम्: should be given
• देयम्: Vidhi (विधेय/obligatory predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → देय (कृदन्त/तव्यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (Gerundive/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate): ‘to be given/should be given’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/निपात) — emphasis/assurance

• विपश्चिता: by the wise (person)
• विपश्चिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine) — ‘wise person’ (agent implied)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Lord accepts offerings aligned with ṛtu (season) and local availability; the teaching frames pūjā as harmonizing human action with cosmic order (ṛta) through appropriate naivedya.

Significance: Encourages pilgrims to offer what is seasonally proper and ethically obtained, reinforcing purity of means and mindfulness in worship.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Shiva should be expressed with discernment and purity—offering what is timely, naturally available, and properly prepared, aligning worship with ṛta (cosmic order) and sattvic discipline.

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

In Linga-worship, the offering (naivedya) is not for Shiva’s need but for the devotee’s refinement; season-appropriate, wholesome offerings cultivate humility and orderliness, supporting Saguna Shiva upāsanā that leads the mind toward Shiva’s higher, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer seasonally appropriate fruits and simple, properly prepared food accompaniments as naivedya during Shiva puja, ideally alongside steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a restrained, sattvic mindset.