Shloka 33

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

आदाय शंखं साधारमस्त्रमन्त्रेण भस्मना । शोध्य तत्पुरतस्स्थाप्य चतुरस्रे समर्चिते

Transliteration

ādāya śaṃkhaṃ sādhāramastramantreṇa bhasmanā | śodhya tatpuratassthāpya caturasre samarcite

Translation

ആധാരസഹിതമായ ശംഖം എടുത്ത്, അസ്ത്രമന്ത്രം ചൊല്ലി ഭസ്മംകൊണ്ട് അതിനെ ശോധനം ചെയ്യണം. തുടർന്ന് സമ്യക് ആരാധിതമായ ചതുരശ്ര വേദികാ-സ്ഥാനത്ത്, ആസനത്തിന്റെ മുൻപിൽ സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ക്രിയ തുടരുക.

Word by Word

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + √दा (धातु) ; आदाय (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• साधारम्: with a support/stand; supported
• साधारम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (शङ्खम् इति विशेष्य)

• अस्त्र-मन्त्रेण: with the Astra-mantra
• अस्त्र-मन्त्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अस्त्रस्य मन्त्रः)

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शोध्य: having purified
• शोध्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुध्/√शोध् (धातु) ; शोध्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) रूपेण प्रयोगः (शोध्य = शोधित्वा)

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (in front)

• स्थाप्य: having placed
• स्थाप्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु) ; स्थाप्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) रूपेण प्रयोगः (स्थाप्य = स्थापयित्वा)

• चतुरस्रे: in/on the square (altar/diagram)
• चतुरस्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे नपुंसकं सामान्यं), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समर्चिते: (in a place) duly worshipped/consecrated
• समर्चिते: अधिकरण-विशेषण (Locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + √अर्च् (धातु) ; समर्चित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणे विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed Śaiva ritual to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śaiva worship begins with śuddhi (purification): bhasma and mantra sanctify the instruments so the devotee approaches Śiva with inner and outer purity, aligning the self (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

The verse describes preparatory steps of Saguna Śiva-upāsanā: arranging the worship space and purifying ritual articles before offering to the Liṅga, emphasizing order (mandala) and protection (Astra-mantra) in formal pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Purify the conch (used for abhiṣeka/water offering) with bhasma while reciting the Astra-mantra, then place it before the worship area within a consecrated square altar-space—an act that also trains focused, mantra-centered attention.