Shloka 41

Ekādaśāhna-vidhiḥ (The Rite Prescribed for the Eleventh Day): Maṇḍala-racanā, Āvāhana, Mudrā, and Ativāhika-devatā Pūjā

Devanagari script

रक्षार्थमेव सर्वत्र विष्णोः पूजाविधिः स्मृतः । कुर्य्याद्विष्णोर्महापूजां पायसान्नं निवेदयेत्

Transliteration

rakṣārthameva sarvatra viṣṇoḥ pūjāvidhiḥ smṛtaḥ | kuryyādviṣṇormahāpūjāṃ pāyasānnaṃ nivedayet

Translation

เพื่อความคุ้มครองเท่านั้น จึงมีการบัญญัติวิธีบูชาพระวิษณุไว้ทุกแห่ง พึงประกอบมหาบูชาพระวิษณุ และถวายปายาสะ คือข้าวหวานต้มในน้ำนม เป็นเครื่องนิเวทยะ

Word by Word

• rakṣā-artham: for protection
• rakṣā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अर्थ-शब्दः), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘रक्षायाः अर्थः’ = for protection)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: everywhere)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• pūjā-vidhiḥ: the procedure of worship
• pūjā-vidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘पूजायाः विधिः’ = rule/method of worship)

• smṛtaḥ: is declared/remembered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate: ‘is said/remembered’)

• kuryāt: one should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Prescription)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• mahā-pūjām: great worship
• mahā-pūjām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘महती पूजā’ = great worship)

• pāyasa-annam: sweet milk-rice (pāyasa) offering
• pāyasa-annam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘पायस-रूपम् अन्नम्’ = rice/food in sweet milk)

• nivedayet: one should offer/present
• nivedayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Prescription)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vid (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita teaching to the sages, conveying the Purana’s ritual instruction)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse gives a protective (rakṣā) ancillary rite: worship of Viṣṇu as part of a broader Śaiva ritual regimen, reflecting Purāṇic/Smārta integration where Viṣṇu-pūjā functions as upāṅga for averting obstacles.

Significance: Protection (rakṣā) and obstacle-removal as a preparatory/auxiliary merit supporting successful completion of the main observance.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse frames protective rites (rakṣā) as a legitimate, dharmic support to spiritual life: worldly safety is maintained through prescribed worship, so the seeker can pursue Shiva-oriented sādhanā with steadiness and fewer obstacles.

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

From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, Shiva remains the supreme Pati, while other deities can be honored for specific functions within dharma. This verse highlights a functional, protective worship of Viṣṇu without displacing the centrality of Saguna Shiva/Linga-upāsanā in the broader Shaiva path.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A protective mahā-pūjā to Viṣṇu with naivedya of pāyasānna (sweet milk-rice). As a practical takeaway, perform the worship with purity and devotion; then continue one’s primary Shaiva practice (e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī) with a protected mind and environment.