Shloka 2

Devanagari script

स्थाप्य साधारकं तं तु प्रणवेनार्चयेत्ततः । आपूर्य्य शुद्धतोयेन चन्दनादिसुगंधिना

Transliteration

sthāpya sādhārakaṃ taṃ tu praṇavenārcayettataḥ | āpūryya śuddhatoyena candanādisugaṃdhinā

Translation

ആ സാധാരകം (ആധാരപീഠം) സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ശേഷം പ്രണവ ‘ഓം’ കൊണ്ട് അർച്ചന ചെയ്യണം. തുടർന്ന് ചന്ദനാദി സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ ചേർത്ത ശുദ്ധജലം കൊണ്ട് അത് നിറയ്ക്കണം.

Word by Word

• स्थाप्य: having established
• स्थाप्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), absolutive/gerund; ‘having placed/established’

• साधारकम्: the support/base (as an object)
• साधारकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies तम्

• तम्: that (object)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; masculine, Accusative, Singular (pronoun)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानसूचक (particle)

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person, Singular; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमसूचक (adverb: thereafter/from that)

• आपूर्य्य: having filled
• आपूर्य्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√पॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), absolutive/gerund; ‘having filled’ (spelling variant āpūryya = āpūrya)

• शुद्ध-तोयेन: with pure water
• शुद्ध-तोयेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘शुद्धं तोयम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• चन्दन-आदि-सुगन्धिना: with fragrance (from sandalwood etc.)
• चन्दन-आदि-सुगन्धिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + सुगन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चन्दनादिभिः सुगन्धिना); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; masculine, Instrumental, Singular; qualifies implied ‘जल/द्रव्य’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed worship-method to the sages, as typical in the Shiva Purana’s discourse style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (प्रणव)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship begins with proper स्थापना (right placement and sanctification of the worship-base) and with Praṇava (Oṁ), indicating that outer ritual should be anchored in inner purity and the highest sound-symbol of Pati (Śiva) before offering substances like water and fragrance.

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

The verse outlines preparatory steps for Linga-pūjā: establishing the ādhāra (support/base) and sanctifying it through Oṁ, then offering pure, fragrant water—classical upacāra that honors Saguna Śiva while pointing to his transcendent presence through Praṇava.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin the worship with japa/utterance of Oṁ (Praṇava), then perform abhiṣeka-like preparation using pure water infused with sandalwood fragrance—combining mantra (inner focus) with dravya-upacāra (outer offering).