Shloka 51

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

गुरुदत्तेन मंत्रेण पूजयेद्वृषभध्जम् । अन्यथा नाममंत्रेण पूजयेद्वै सदाशिवम्

Transliteration

gurudattena maṃtreṇa pūjayedvṛṣabhadhjam | anyathā nāmamaṃtreṇa pūjayedvai sadāśivam

Translation

ಗುರು ನೀಡಿದ ಮಂತ್ರದಿಂದ ವೃಷಭಧ್ವಜನಾದ (ಶಿವನ) ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು. ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವನ ನಾಮಮಂತ್ರದಿಂದ ಸದಾಶಿವನನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• गुरुदत्तेन: given by the guru
• गुरुदत्तेन: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरुदत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया/षष्ठीभाव: ‘गुरुणा दत्तेन’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘मन्त्रेण’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मन्त्रेण: with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वृषभध्वजम्: the one whose banner is the bull (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (otherwise)

• नाममन्त्रेण: with a name-mantra
• नाममन्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘नाम-रूपो मन्त्रः’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• सदाशिवम्: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘सदा शिवः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadashiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-worship is ideally grounded in Guru-bestowed initiation (dīkṣā), yet also affirms that sincere devotion through Śiva’s Name is a valid path to grace.

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

It supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva as the Bull-bannered Lord—through a proper mantra received in lineage; if that is unavailable, one may still worship Sadāśiva through nāma-mantra (reverent repetition of His Names).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pūjā or japa using the mantra given by one’s Guru; if not initiated, practice nāma-japa such as repeating “Śiva”/“Sadāśiva” (and commonly, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion and purity of intention.