Shloka 4

Śiva-Pūjākramaḥ — The Procedural Order of Shiva Worship

Pañcāvaraṇa & Upacāras

Devanagari script

महासंकल्पमार्गेण संकल्प्यास्मद्गुरोरिह । पूजां करिष्य इत्युक्त्वा ततो दर्भानुस्पपृशेत्

Transliteration

mahāsaṃkalpamārgeṇa saṃkalpyāsmadguroriha | pūjāṃ kariṣya ityuktvā tato darbhānuspapṛśet

Translation

大いなるサンカルパの作法に従い、ここにて我らの尊き師の御前で、「我は供養を行わん」と厳粛に誓願する。そう宣言してのち、作法に従って聖なるダルバ草に触れるべきである。

Word by Word

• महासंकल्पमार्गेण: by the great-saṅkalpa procedure
• महासंकल्पमार्गेण: Karaṇa (करण/Means-method)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासंकल्पमार्ग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + संकल्प + मार्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संकल्प्य: having made the resolve
• संकल्प्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• अस्मत्-गुरोः: of our guru
• अस्मत्-गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); ‘अस्माकं गुरोः’

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: 'here')

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• करिष्ये: I shall do
• करिष्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• दर्भान्: kuśa grass
• दर्भान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनुस्पपृशेत्: should touch (thereafter)
• अनुस्पपृशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; देशी/वैदिक-रूप: ‘स्पर्शयेत्/स्पृशेत्’ अर्थे

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship begins with saṅkalpa—an intentional, disciplined resolve—made with reverence to the guru, aligning the devotee’s will with dharma before approaching Shiva’s worship.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is not merely external offering; it is grounded in correct inner orientation (saṅkalpa) and authorized tradition (guru). The verse frames the puja as a vowed act performed in a sanctified, rule-based manner.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Make a formal saṅkalpa (“I will perform the worship”), then ritually touch darbha (kuśa) as part of purification and readiness—supporting steadiness of mind and cleanliness of the rite before commencing Shiva-puja.