Shloka 33

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

तत्समीपमुपव्रज्य यथाविधि विचक्षणः । दीर्घदण्डप्रणामाद्यैस्तोषयेद्यत्नतस्सुधीः

Transliteration

tatsamīpamupavrajya yathāvidhi vicakṣaṇaḥ | dīrghadaṇḍapraṇāmādyaistoṣayedyatnatassudhīḥ

Translation

亲近其侧后，具辨慧的智者应依所规定的仪轨，勤恳令其欢喜：以“杖式顶礼”（daṇḍavat-praṇāma，身如长杖般全身伏地）等诸般恭敬供奉为始。

Word by Word

• तत्-समীপम्: to his vicinity
• तत्-समীপम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('near him/that'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थकर्म (object of motion)

• उपव्रज्य: having approached
• उपव्रज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथा-विधि: Karana (करण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial: 'according to rule'); क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विचक्षणः: the discerning one
• विचक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीर्घ-दण्ड-प्रणाम-आद्यैः: by (acts such as) prostration with a long staff, etc.
• दीर्घ-दण्ड-प्रणाम-आद्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (enumerative determinative: 'by long-staff prostration etc.'); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तोषयेत्: should please
• तोषयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• यत्नतः: with effort, diligently
• यत्नतः: Karana (करण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्नतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('good/intelligent-minded'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that nearness to Shiva is gained through humility and right conduct: the wise devotee approaches with reverence and follows vidhi so that devotion becomes disciplined, purifying, and grace-attracting (anugraha).

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

The verse emphasizes saguna-upāsanā expressed through bodily reverence—especially daṇḍavat prostration—performed as part of prescribed Shiva-pūjā; such external worship supports inner surrender to Pati (Shiva) who releases the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daṇḍavat-praṇāma (full prostration) and related acts of respectful worship with careful adherence to procedure; internally maintain focused devotion and surrender while performing the rite.