Shloka 23

Brahmā–Viṣṇu-Pūjā: Upacāra-Vistāra and Īśvara’s Prasāda

Offerings in Shiva Worship and the Lord’s Grace

Devanagari script

रथोत्सवादिकल्याणं जनावासं तु सर्वतः । अत्र दत्तं हुतं जप्तं सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्

Transliteration

rathotsavādikalyāṇaṃ janāvāsaṃ tu sarvataḥ | atra dattaṃ hutaṃ japtaṃ sarvaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ bhavet

Translation

Cette contrée sacrée est bénie par les fêtes de chars et d’autres célébrations saintes, et elle est peuplée de toutes parts. Tout don fait ici, toute offrande versée dans le feu sacré, et toute récitation en japa — tout cela devient un million de fois en mérite.

Word by Word

• rathotsavādikalyāṇam: auspicious acts such as chariot-festivals
• rathotsavādikalyāṇam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha-utsava-ādi-kalyāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (rathotsavaḥ ādiḥ yeṣāṃ tāni kalyāṇāni; ‘ādi’ समाहार-निर्देश); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (समुच्चित-विषय)

• janāvāsam: dwelling of people/settlement
• janāvāsam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana-āvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (janānāṃ āvāsaḥ); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• sarvataḥ: everywhere/from all sides
• sarvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक/परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (from all sides/everywhere)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa-dyotaka (अधिकरण-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• dattam: given (charity)
• dattam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; nominalized act)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धाातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘sarvam’ इति समाहार-विषयेषु एकम्

• hutam: offered in fire (sacrifice)
• hutam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; nominalized act)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (हु धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• japtam: recited (japa)
• japtam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; nominalized act)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (जप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहारार्थ (collective ‘everything’)

• koṭiguṇam: a crore-fold
• koṭiguṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (koṭyā guṇam / koṭi-guṇitam); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘sarvam’ इति विशेषणम्

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The kṣetra is portrayed as socially and ritually vibrant (rathotsava etc.), and it amplifies religious acts—dāna, homa, and japa—into immense merit, indicating a concentrated field of grace.

Significance: Merit-multiplication doctrine: acts performed in the kṣetra yield extraordinary puṇya, encouraging pilgrimage, festival participation, and sustained sādhana.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that proximity to a Shiva-saturated kṣetra intensifies spiritual effort: acts of dāna, homa, and japa performed there become vastly more fruitful, supporting the Shaiva view that grace (anugraha) and sacred context amplify sādhanā toward liberation.

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

Such merit-multiplying places are typically associated with Saguna Shiva worship—especially the Śiva-liṅga—where offerings, mantra-recitation, and vows are performed with devotion, and the Lord’s presence as Pati makes worship exceptionally efficacious.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform japa (especially Shiva-mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī), along with homa and charitable giving in a Shiva holy place; the takeaway is consistent, devoted practice—mantra repetition with purity and faith—supported by ritual offerings.