Shloka 5

Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ

On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering

Devanagari script

अलं यागसहस्रेणाप्यलं यागार्बुदैरपि । भक्षिते शिवनैवेद्ये शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

alaṃ yāgasahasreṇāpyalaṃ yāgārbudairapi | bhakṣite śivanaivedye śivasāyujyamāpnuyāt

Translation

వెయ్యి యజ్ఞాలూ అవసరం కాదు, అనేక కోట్లు యాగాలూ అవసరం కాదు; శివునికి అర్పించిన నైవేద్య ప్రసాదాన్ని భుజించడమే శివసాయుజ్యాన్ని—శివునితో ఏకత్వాన్ని—ప్రాప్తి చేయిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• अलम्: enough
• अलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक-निपात (enough/sufficient)

• याग-सहस्रेण: by a thousand sacrifices
• याग-सहस्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (यागानां सहस्रम्)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थक-निपात (even/also)

• अलम्: enough
• अलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक-निपात

• याग-अर्बुदैः: by tens of millions of sacrifices
• याग-अर्बुदैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (यागानाम् अर्बुदानि)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थक-निपात

• भक्षिते: when (it is) eaten
• भक्षिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्षित (कृदन्त; √भक्ष्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त); सति-सप्तमी: ‘भक्षिते (सति)’ = when eaten

• शिव-नैवेद्ये: in Śiva’s naivedya
• शिव-नैवेद्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः

• शिव-सायुज्यम्: union with Śiva (sāyujya)
• शिव-सायुज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सायुज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य सायुज्यम्)

• आप्नुयात्: would attain / should attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General siddhānta reading: ritual multiplicity (yāga) is surpassed by Śiva’s grace mediated through prasāda; the promised fruit is sāyujya (communion) with Śiva.

Significance: Elevates bhakti and prasāda-sevā over costly Vedic-style sacrifice, making liberation-oriented benefit accessible to all varṇas/āśramas.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace received through bhakti—especially by honoring Śiva’s naivedya (prasāda)—can surpass the merit of vast Vedic sacrifices, leading the devotee toward Śiva-sāyujya (liberating communion with the Lord).

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

Naivedya is a core element of saguna worship in linga-pūjā: the offering is consecrated by devotion and then received as Śiva’s prasāda, emphasizing relational devotion over mere ritual magnitude.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer food to Śiva in linga worship with mantra and purity of intent, then partake of the consecrated prasāda as an act of surrender; this bhakti-centered practice is presented as a direct means toward Śiva’s liberating grace.