Shloka 73

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

पूर्वतो द्विगुणं कुर्यान्मंत्रजापं नरोत्तमः । संकल्पं ब्रह्मभोजस्य यथाशक्ति चरेद्बुधः

Transliteration

pūrvato dviguṇaṃ kuryānmaṃtrajāpaṃ narottamaḥ | saṃkalpaṃ brahmabhojasya yathāśakti caredbudhaḥ

Translation

ഹേ നരോത്തമാ, മുമ്പത്തേക്കാൾ ഇപ്പോൾ മന്ത്രജപം ഇരട്ടിയായി ചെയ്യണം. ജ്ഞാനി ഭക്തൻ ശക്തിയനുസരിച്ച് ബ്രാഹ്മണഭോജനത്തിന്റെ സംकल्पം എടുത്ത് അത് പൂർത്തിയാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• pūrvataḥ: before/previously
• pūrvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय)

• dviguṇam: double (in amount)
• dviguṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu compound meaning 'twofold/double' used adjectivally

• kuryāt: should do/make
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• mantra-jāpam: mantra-recitation
• mantra-jāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + jāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa 'recitation of mantra(s)'

• nara-uttamaḥ: the best of men
• nara-uttamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya 'best of men'

• saṃkalpam: the resolve/vow (formal intention)
• saṃkalpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• brahma-bhojasya: of the brahma-feeding (Brahmin-feast)
• brahma-bhojasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + bhoja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; tatpuruṣa 'of the brahma-feast/feeding of Brahmins'

• yathā-śakti: as per capacity
• yathā-śakti: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; adverbial indeclinable meaning 'according to ability'

• caret: should perform/practice
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• budhaḥ: the wise person
• budhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A vrata-completion instruction: intensify mantra-japa and formalize saṅkalpa for brahma-bhoja (feeding brāhmaṇas). This is a general dharmic completion rite rather than a local legend.

Significance: Highlights that worship matures through discipline (japa) and dāna/anna-sevā (feeding the worthy), integrating inner practice with social-sacral obligation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-worship is perfected by intensified mantra-japa and a sincere saṅkalpa expressed through service—especially honoring the learned and devoted—done within one’s means, cultivating purity, humility, and devotion.

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

In Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship, inner practice (japa) and outer completion (saṅkalpa with offerings like brahmabhoja) are paired; the verse emphasizes increasing japa and sealing the pūjā with a capacity-based act of reverent giving.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Increase mantra repetition to double the prior count, and make a formal vow to feed brāhmaṇas (brahmabhoja) according to ability—supporting the japa with disciplined intention and devotional charity.