Shloka 81

Devanagari script

अशक्तस्त्वेककाले वा सूर्याग्नी च यथाविधि । तंडुलं धान्यमाज्यं वा फलं कंदं हविस्तथा

Transliteration

aśaktastvekakāle vā sūryāgnī ca yathāvidhi | taṃḍulaṃ dhānyamājyaṃ vā phalaṃ kaṃdaṃ havistathā

Translation

แต่หากผู้ใดไม่สามารถทำได้ครบถ้วน ก็อาจทำเพียงครั้งเดียว (ในหนึ่งวัน) ได้ ตามแบบพิธี โดยมีพระสุริยะและอัคนีเป็นสักขี แล้วถวายข้าวสาร ธัญพืชอื่น เนยใส หรือผลไม้และหัวเผือกหัวมัน สิ่งเหล่านี้ก็เป็นหวิส (เครื่องบูชา) ได้เช่นกัน

Word by Word

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but/however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• एककाले: at one time (only)
• एककाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘एकः कालः’/‘एकस्मिन् काले’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive)

• सूर्याग्नी: the Sun and Fire (as deities/rites)
• सूर्याग्नी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (‘सूर्यश्च अग्निश्च’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथाविधि: according to the prescribed method
• यथाविधि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय (adverb) ‘according to rule’

• तण्डुलम्: rice grains
• तण्डुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धान्यम्: grain
• धान्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आज्यम्: ghee
• आज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive)

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कन्दम्: tuber/root
• कन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हविः: oblation
• हविः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थ (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s ritual teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s teaching tradition repeatedly stresses accessibility: even simplified offerings, done with śraddhā and rule-consciousness, are accepted by the Lord of Kāśī; this verse codifies ‘capacity-based’ performance (yathāśakti) while keeping witnesses (Sūrya-Agni) and vidhi intact.

Significance: Encourages pilgrims/householders to maintain continuity of worship even with limited means; sustains merit and Śiva’s favor through sincere minimal offerings.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya
• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva accepts devotion (bhakti) even when one lacks capacity for elaborate rites; sincerity and adherence to dharma matter more than external abundance.

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

It supports accessible Saguna worship: even simple havis—rice, grains, ghee, fruits, or roots—can be offered with proper intention, acknowledging Śiva through sacred witnesses like Agni and Sūrya.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a simplified offering once daily if needed—offer basic, pure items as havis with reverence; accompany it with Śiva-smaraṇa and, where customary, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).