Shloka 85

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

वस्त्रादि दक्षिणां दत्त्वा प्रणम्य भुवि दण्डवत् । दोरकौपीनवसनं दण्डाच्च क्षालितम्भुवि

Transliteration

vastrādi dakṣiṇāṃ dattvā praṇamya bhuvi daṇḍavat | dorakaupīnavasanaṃ daṇḍācca kṣālitambhuvi

Translation

既以衣物等奉献达克希那（dakṣiṇā），便当如杖投地，五体投地而礼拜。继而就在地上洗净杖与出家行者之简衣——如臂绳（dora）、兜裆（kaupīna）及其衣服——以在对湿婆的虔敬中守护誓戒之清净与律仪。

Word by Word

• वस्त्र-आदि: cloth etc.
• वस्त्र-आदि: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); अत्र ‘दक्षिणाम्’ विशेषणरूपेण (as qualifier) प्रयुक्तम्; समासः—आदि-शब्देन ‘etc.’ (वस्त्रादि = cloth and the like)

• दक्षिणाम्: the honorarium/donation
• दक्षिणाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having given’

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having bowed’

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दण्डवत्: like a staff (prostrate)
• दण्डवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (adverbial indeclinable) ‘like a staff’; नमस्कार-प्रकारे क्रियाविशेषण

• दोरक-कौपीन-वसनम्: cord, loincloth, and garment (set)
• दोरक-कौपीन-वसनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोरक (प्रातिपदिक) + कौपीन (प्रातिपदिक) + वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (copulative): ‘cord, loincloth, and garment’ (समाहार-द्वन्द्वे एकवचन)

• दण्डात्: from the staff
• दण्डात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• क्षालितम्: washed
• क्षालितम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘washed/cleansed’

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches humility and disciplined service: offering dakṣiṇā, performing full prostration, and maintaining cleanliness of ascetic implements—outer acts that support inner surrender to Pati (Śiva) and steady the aspirant’s vow.

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

These are preparatory observances that accompany Saguna Śiva worship—approaching Śiva with reverence, purity, and self-offering—so that Linga-pūjā is not merely formal but aligned with devotion and restraint.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Give dakṣiṇā (such as cloth), do daṇḍavat-praṇāma, and keep vow-items clean; this complements Shaiva practice such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and other niyamas of purity and discipline.