Shloka 24

आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship

Devanagari script

ब्रह्म विष्णू च विधिना पूजयेदुपचारकैः । बाह्यरेखासु देवेशम्पञ्चमावरणे यजेत्

Transliteration

brahma viṣṇū ca vidhinā pūjayedupacārakaiḥ | bāhyarekhāsu deveśampañcamāvaraṇe yajet

Translation

ब्रह्माणं विष्णुं च विधिना उपचारकैः पूजयेत् । बाह्यरेखासु पञ्चमावरणे देवेशं शिवं यजेत् ॥

Word by Word

• brahma: Brahmā
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇum: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vidhinā: according to the prescribed rite
• vidhinā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• upacārakaiḥ: with offerings / services
• upacārakaiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bāhya-rekhāsu: on the outer lines
• bāhya-rekhāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhya + rekhā (प्रातिपदिक); bāhyarekhā (समास)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• deveśam: the Lord of gods (Śiva)
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + īśa (प्रातिपदिक); deveśa (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pañcama-āvaraṇe: in the fifth enclosure
• pañcama-āvaraṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक); pañcamāvaraṇa (समास)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yajet: should worship / should offer sacrifice
• yajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed Shaiva ritual as taught in the Kailāsa-saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches ordered, reverential worship: honoring cosmic functions (Brahmā and Viṣṇu) while culminating in devotion to Śiva as Deveśa, the supreme Lord who grants grace and liberation.

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

The verse reflects Saguna-upāsanā: Śiva is approached through structured ritual (upacāras) and āvaraṇas of a maṇḍala, a common framework for Linga-centered worship where the deity is invoked and honored in concentric enclosures.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice āvaraṇa-pūjā: offer standard upacāras in sequence, worshiping Brahmā and Viṣṇu first, then worship Śiva on the outer lines in the fifth enclosure—maintaining mantra-focused attention (japa) and purity of procedure.