Shloka 71

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

नान्दीमुखोक्तश्राद्धांगं करिष्ये पिण्डदानकम् । इति संकल्प्य दक्षादिसमारभ्योदकान्ति कम्

Transliteration

nāndīmukhoktaśrāddhāṃgaṃ kariṣye piṇḍadānakam | iti saṃkalpya dakṣādisamārabhyodakānti kam

Translation

“నందీముఖుడు ఉపదేశించిన శ్రాద్ధాంగంగా నేను పిండదానం చేస్తాను” అని సంకల్పించి, దక్షుడు మొదలైనవారిని ఆరంభంగా తీసుకొని, ఉదకాంతి (చివరి తర్పణం) వరకు ఆ విధిని నిర్వహించాడు.

Word by Word

• नान्दीमुख-उक्त-श्राद्ध-अङ्गम्: the rite-part of the śrāddha prescribed for Nāndīmukha
• नान्दीमुख-उक्त-श्राद्ध-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नान्दीमुख + उक्त (कृदन्त) + श्राद्ध + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नान्दीमुखे उक्तं यत् श्राद्धम्, तस्य अङ्गम्)

• करिष्ये: I will perform
• करिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पिण्ड-दानकम्: the offering of rice-balls
• पिण्ड-दानकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + दानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य दानम्)

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• संकल्प्य: having resolved
• संकल्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: संकल्पय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), परस्मैपद-प्रयोगार्थ; अव्ययभाव (having resolved)

• दक्ष-आदि-समारभ्य: starting from Dakṣa and others
• दक्ष-आदि-समारभ्य: Apadana/Starting point (अपादान-अर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्ष + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + समारभ्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभाव (दक्षादीन् आरभ्य = starting from Dakṣa etc.)

• उदकान्तिकम्: (the rite) accompanied by water / with water near at hand
• उदकान्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदक + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (उदकस्य अन्तिकम् = near/with water as accompaniment)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Nandīmukha
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights saṅkalpa (sacred resolve) and dharma: a rite becomes spiritually effective when begun with clear intention and completed properly, honoring the ancestral line while remaining aligned with devotion to Pati (Śiva) as the inner witness.

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

Even when the act is ancestral śrāddha, it is performed under Śiva’s all-pervading lordship; in Shaiva understanding, Saguna Śiva (as the gracious Lord) sanctifies duties like piṇḍadāna when done with purity, making worldly obligations supportive of spiritual uplift.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to the discipline of making a proper saṅkalpa, performing piṇḍadāna as prescribed, and concluding with udaka-offering; as a meditative takeaway, maintain steady remembrance of Śiva while completing each step without negligence.