Shloka 43

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

प्रतिश्राद्धं ब्राह्मणानां युग्मं कृत्वोपकल्पितान् । आहूय पादौ प्रक्षाल्य स्वयमाचम्य यत्नतः

Transliteration

pratiśrāddhaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ yugmaṃ kṛtvopakalpitān | āhūya pādau prakṣālya svayamācamya yatnataḥ

Translation

ഓരോ ശ്രാദ്ധത്തിലും ഒരുക്കിയ ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ ജോഡികളായി ക്രമീകരിക്കണം. അവരെ ക്ഷണിച്ച് പാദങ്ങൾ കഴുകി, പിന്നെ സ്വയം ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ആചമനം ചെയ്ത് കർമ്മം ജാഗ്രതയോടെ നടത്തണം.

Word by Word

• प्रतिश्राद्धम्: at each śrāddha
• प्रतिश्राद्धम्: Kāla (काल/Occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; प्रति + श्राद्ध)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (‘प्रति श्राद्धम्’ = at each śrāddha); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थ (adverbial accusative)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• युग्मम्: a pair (two)
• युग्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• उपकल्पितान्: prepared; arranged
• उपकल्पितान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप+कॢप् (धातु) → उपकल्पित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of brāhmaṇas)

• आहूय: having invited
• आहूय: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+ह्वे (धातु) → आहूय (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having invited/called)

• पादौ: (their) two feet
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+क्षल् (धातु) → प्रक्षाल्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having washed)

• स्वयम्: oneself; personally
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कर्तृवाचक/स्वकृत्यबोधक (reflexive adverb)

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चम् (धातु) → आचम्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having sipped water/ācamana)

• यत्नतः: carefully; with effort
• यत्नतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; prescribes brāhmaṇa-satkara as a key limb (aṅga) of śrāddha: inviting prepared brāhmaṇas, pāda-prakṣālana, and the yajamāna’s ācamana.

Significance: Frames brāhmaṇas as ritual conduits for pitṛ-yajña; careful purity acts (ācamana, foot-washing) are said to stabilize the rite’s efficacy.

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer ritual must be grounded in inner purity and humility—serving worthy recipients with care becomes a dharmic act that supports merit and steadiness of mind on the Shaiva path.

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

In Shaiva practice, devotion to Saguna Shiva is expressed through disciplined conduct (śauca, respect, right ritual sequence). Such purity-oriented acts are extensions of reverence that make worship and offerings spiritually fit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse directly prescribes ācamana and careful observance of cleanliness and respectful hospitality (washing feet) before proceeding with the rite—emphasizing mindful preparation as a spiritual discipline.