Shloka 1

संन्यासमण्डलविधिवर्णनम्

Sannyāsa Maṇḍala Vidhi—Procedure for the Renunciate Mandala

Devanagari script

ईश्वर उवाच । परीक्ष्य विधिवद्भूमिं गंधवर्णरसादिभिः । मनोभिलषिते तत्र वितानवितताम्बरे

Transliteration

īśvara uvāca | parīkṣya vidhivadbhūmiṃ gaṃdhavarṇarasādibhiḥ | manobhilaṣite tatra vitānavitatāmbare

Translation

ಈಶ್ವರನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಗಂಧ, ವರ್ಣ, ರಸ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳಿಂದ ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿ, ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದ ಸ್ಥಳವನ್ನು ಆಯ್ಕೆಮಾಡು; ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಮೇಲಿಂದ ಹರಡಿದ ವಿತಾನ (ಛತ್ರ) ಇರುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ಅದರ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಕರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸು।

Word by Word

• īśvaraḥ: Īśvara (Lord)
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; speaker designation

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; parasmaipada

• parīkṣya: having examined
• parīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having examined'

• vidhi-vat: according to the prescribed method
• vidhi-vat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb; 'according to rule'

• bhūmim: the ground/earth
• bhūmim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular

• gandha-varṇa-rasa-ādibhiḥ: by smell, color, taste, etc.
• gandha-varṇa-rasa-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः with ādi indicating 'etc.'

• manaḥ-abhilaṣite: in the mind-desired (place)
• manaḥ-abhilaṣite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + abhilaṣita (कृदन्त; अभि-लष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Napumsaka, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; past participle used adjectivally: 'in the desired (place) of the mind'

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place

• vitāna-vitata-ambare: in a pavilion with a spread canopy
• vitāna-vitata-ambare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vitata (कृदन्त; तन् धातु, क्त) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Locative (7th), Singular; 'in/at (a place) whose canopy/cloth is spread as a pavilion'

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Ishvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the prerequisite of śuddha-deśa (ritually and psychically suitable ground) for successful worship; in Siddhānta, correct vidhi supports removal of mala through Śiva’s anugraha mediated by karma-śuddhi.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship is not casual: the outer place (bhūmi) should be examined and made auspicious, mirroring the inner purification of the seeker, so that devotion and discipline support realization of Pati (Shiva).

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

By prescribing a properly selected and prepared site (with a canopy and orderly arrangement), the verse supports saguna-upāsanā—formal worship of Shiva as the Linga—where sanctity of space helps steady the mind in reverence and concentration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests beginning puja or japa only after choosing a clean, agreeable place and setting up a proper worship space (e.g., a covered, orderly area), which complements mantra practice such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya with steadiness and purity.