Shloka 42

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

अथोर्ध्वच्छदनम्पीठपादे स्कन्दं समर्चयेत् । लिंगे मूर्तिं समाकल्प्य मान्त्वया सह पूजयेत्

Transliteration

athordhvacchadanampīṭhapāde skandaṃ samarcayet | liṃge mūrtiṃ samākalpya māntvayā saha pūjayet

Translation

次に、上の天蓋の下、台座の足元にてスカンダを如法に供養せよ。リンガの上にその御姿を観想し安置して、随伴する神聖なる力（シャクティ）とともにそこで礼拝せよ。

Word by Word

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

• ऊर्ध्व-च्छदनम्: upper covering/canopy
• ऊर्ध्व-च्छदनम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + छदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (contextually in compound with following); ‘upper covering/canopy’

• पीठ-पादे: on the pedestal-foot
• पीठ-पादे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘at/on the pedestal-foot’

• स्कन्दम्: Skanda
• स्कन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• समर्चयेत्: should worship
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should worship

• लिङ्गे: in/on the liṅga
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• मूर्तिम्: form; image
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• समाकल्प्य: having arranged
• समाकल्प्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + कल्प् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त; having arranged/constructed

• मा: with me
• मा: Sahakarana (सहकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मा (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by/with me’

• त्वया: with you
• त्वया: Sahakarana (सहकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by/with you’

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद (with)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should worship

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed mode of worship as taught in the Kailasa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Śiva’s Liṅga can include reverent honoring of Śiva’s divine family and powers, with Skanda worship placed in an ordered, sanctified location—supporting disciplined bhakti that leads the soul (paśu) toward Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse explicitly prescribes worship in relation to the Liṅga: one contemplates (samākalpya) a mūrti-form in the Liṅga and performs pūjā, showing Saguna upāsanā as a means to approach the transcendent Śiva through a consecrated symbol.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a pūjā-krama: place/visualize Skanda at the pedestal-base region and perform worship after establishing his presence upon the Liṅga through dhyāna (inner installation), optionally accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) within a Shaiva pūjā framework.