Shloka 48

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

होमान्ते दक्षिणा देया गुरोर्गोमिथुनं तथा । ईशानादिस्वरूपांस्तान्गुरुं सांबं विभाव्य च

Transliteration

homānte dakṣiṇā deyā gurorgomithunaṃ tathā | īśānādisvarūpāṃstānguruṃ sāṃbaṃ vibhāvya ca

Translation

హోమాంతంలో గురువుకు దక్షిణను సమర్పించాలి; అలాగే ఒక జత గోవులను కూడా ఇవ్వాలి। గురువులో ఈశానాది స్వరూపాలను భావించి, అంబాసహిత శివునిగా ధ్యానించాలి।

Word by Word

• homa-ante: at the end of the homa
• homa-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'at the end of the homa'

• dakṣiṇā: fee/gift (dakṣiṇā)
• dakṣiṇā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• deyā: should be given
• deyā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (तव्यत्/यत्; here -य), Feminine, Nominative, Singular agreeing with dakṣiṇā; sense: 'is to be given/should be given'

• guroḥ: to the guru/of the guru
• guroḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• go-mithunam: a pair of cows (a cow-couple)
• go-mithunam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + mithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'cow' + 'pair/couple'

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (तथार्थक अव्यय)

• īśāna-ādi-svarūpān: having forms such as Īśāna etc.
• īśāna-ādi-svarūpān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; Tatpuruṣa: 'having forms beginning with Īśāna' (īśāna etc.)

• tān: those (them)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; pronoun

• gurum: the guru
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• sāmbam: Sāmbam (Śiva with Umā)
• sāmbam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + amba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'with Ambā (Pārvatī)' i.e., 'Sāmbā' (with Umā)

• vibhāvya: having contemplated/visualized
• vibhāvya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√bhū/√bhāv (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त/क्त्वार्थ), 'having contemplated/considered'

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s ritual principles to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti (Ambā/Umā)
• Guru
• Īśāna

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not merely by ritual fire-offering, but by humility and gratitude—offering dakṣiṇā to the Guru while inwardly realizing the Guru as the living conduit of Śiva-Śakti (Pati) who grants right knowledge and liberation.

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

It aligns Saguna worship with living embodiment: the devotee venerates the Guru as a manifestation of Śiva’s Īśāna and other aspects, making the Guru-centered discipline part of Linga-oriented Shaiva practice rather than a separate obligation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

After homa, offer appropriate guru-dakṣiṇā (traditionally even a pair of cows, according to capacity and dharma) and meditate that the Guru embodies Īśāna and the other divine aspects—Śiva united with Śakti—before concluding the rite.