Shloka 1

Śiva-pūjā: Mantra-phonetics, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala, Dīkṣā and Homa

Supreme Worship Leading to Śiva-sāyujya

Devanagari script

नामैकविंशो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / शिवार्चनं प्रवक्ष्यामि बुक्तिमुक्तिकरं परम् / शान्तं सर्वगतं शून्यं मात्राद्वादशके स्थितम्

Transliteration

nāmaikaviṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / śivārcanaṃ pravakṣyāmi buktimuktikaraṃ param / śāntaṃ sarvagataṃ śūnyaṃ mātrādvādaśake sthitam

Translation

Sūta disse: “Proclamarei a suprema adoração a Śiva, que concede bhukti (fruição mundana) e mukti (libertação); Śiva é sereno, onipresente, como śūnya (além de atributos limitadores), e está estabelecido nas doze mātrā.”

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Sambandha (Heading/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd: Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन; शीर्षक-प्रयोगः (‘नाम’)

• एकविंशः: twenty-first
• एकविंशः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकविंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (एक + विंशति)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शिवार्चनम्: worship of Śiva
• शिवार्चनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवार्चन (प्रातिपदिक) < शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (‘शिवस्य अर्चनम्’)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः प्र-

• भुक्तिमुक्तिकरम्: granting enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्तिमुक्तिकरम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्तिमुक्तिकर (प्रातिपदिक) < भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च करोति यत्’)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक) < √शम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• सर्वगतम्: all-pervading
• सर्वगतम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वगत (प्रातिपदिक) < सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘सर्वत्र गतः’)

• शून्यम्: void; empty
• शून्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मात्राद्वादशके: in the set of twelve mātrās
• मात्राद्वादशके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्राद्वादशक (प्रातिपदिक) < मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वादशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (‘मात्राणां द्वादशकः’/‘मात्रा-द्वादशके’)

• स्थितम्: situated; abiding
• स्थितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (प्रातिपदिक) < √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śiva-arcana as both bhukti and mukti-giving; Śiva characterized as śānta, sarvagata, and ‘śūnya’ (beyond limiting predicates), abiding in a twelvefold mātrā system (sound/measure).

Vedantic Theme: Transcendence of attributes (nirviśeṣa-like language) while allowing worship (saguṇa upāsanā) as a means; śabda-brahma orientation.

Application: Integrate devotion with contemplative insight: perform worship with mantra-awareness, treating sound (mātrā) as a ladder from form to formless stillness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: textual/ritual setting (Sūta’s discourse)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections on mantra, liṅga worship, and phala-śruti for Śiva-arcana in the Brahma-khaṇḍa (contextual).

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Sūta

FAQs

What is the importance of Śivārcana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Śivārcana as a “supreme” practice because it is said to grant both bhukti (worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation), linking devotion with spiritual emancipation.

How does this verse explain the nature of Śiva?

Śiva is described as śānta (tranquil) and sarvagata (all-pervading), and as śūnya—suggesting transcendence beyond limiting attributes—while also being connected to subtle sound/measure (mātrā) as a metaphysical ground.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach worship as both ethical-spiritual discipline and inner transformation: keep regular Śiva devotion (japa, pūjā, or meditation) with a focus on calmness, universality, and detachment from egoic limitations.