Shloka 39

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

पूजयेदुपचारैश्च मत्पदं सुलभं भवेत् । इति शास्य तथा शिष्यौ तत्रैवांऽतर्हितः शिवः

Transliteration

pūjayedupacāraiśca matpadaṃ sulabhaṃ bhavet | iti śāsya tathā śiṣyau tatraivāṃ'tarhitaḥ śivaḥ

Translation

पूजयेदुपचारैश्च मत्पदं सुलभं भवेत् । इति शास्य तथा शिष्यौ तत्रैवाऽन्तर्हितः शिवः ॥

Word by Word

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg. ‘let him worship’)

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instr. pl.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय conjunction)

• मत्पदम्: my abode/state
• मत्पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc. sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मम पदम्)

• सुलभम्: easy to attain
• सुलभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुलभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.); विशेषणम् (of मत्पदम्)

• भवेत्: would become/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg.)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उक्तिसूचक quotative particle)

• शास्य: having instructed
• शास्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/तुमुनादि-समकक्षः; here: तुमर्थे/कर्तव्ये), अव्ययभावे (gerund-like) ‘having instructed/after instructing’; (contextual absolutive)

• तथा: thus/in that manner
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक adverb)

• शिष्यौ: the two disciples
• शिष्यौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom./Acc. du.)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण)

• अन्तर्हितः: disappeared/hidden
• अन्तर्हितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्हित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from अन्तर्धा/अन्तर्हि + धा)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त प्रत्यय/past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom. sg.); शिवस्य विशेषणम्

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes that upacāra-pūjā (formal worship with services) is a direct means to attain Śiva-pada (liberation), aligning with the Siddhānta stress on ritual + grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pada (liberation in the Lord’s presence) is not gained by mere theory, but becomes “easy” through sincere upacāra-pūjā performed with devotion, after receiving proper instruction.

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

Upacāras are the standard services offered to Saguna Śiva—most commonly the Śiva-liṅga—showing that tangible worship (archana, abhiṣeka, naivedya, etc.) is a direct means to receive Śiva’s grace leading toward the highest state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular Śiva-pūjā with upacāras (offerings and services) with a focused mind; in practice this often includes mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside liṅga-worship.