Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 142

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

पूजयेद्भोजनाद्यैश्च पंच वा दश वा शतम् । धने देहे च मंत्रे च भावनायामवंचकः

Transliteration

pūjayedbhojanādyaiśca paṃca vā daśa vā śatam | dhane dehe ca maṃtre ca bhāvanāyāmavaṃcakaḥ

Translation

当以饮食等供品而礼敬（湿婆）——或五份、十份，乃至一百份皆可。在财物、身行、持诵真言与内在观修之中，应当远离欺诳。

Word by Word

• पूजयेत्: should worship/honor
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भोजन-आद्यैः: with food and the like
• भोजन-आद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भोजनं आदिः येषाम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; (here) द्वितीया-एकवचन नपुंसकवत् ‘पञ्च (जनान्/वस्तूनि)’

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

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; (here) द्वितीया-एकवचन नपुंसकवत्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• धने: in wealth
• धने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• मन्त्रे: in mantra (practice)
• मन्त्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• भावनायाम्: in contemplation/mental cultivation
• भावनायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवञ्चकः: non-deceitful / sincere
• अवञ्चकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ ‘वञ्चकः न’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General tīrtha/temple ethic: sincerity (avañcakatā) in offerings and mantra is itself an offering that makes worship efficacious.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is validated by integrity: offerings may be few or many, but liberation-oriented devotion requires non-deceit in one’s resources, conduct, mantra-japa, and inner intention.

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

In Linga/Saguṇa worship, external upacāras like naivedya are meaningful only when matched by truthful bhāva; the verse links ritual offering to inner sincerity, making the Linga-pūjā a complete act of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer naivedya (food and related items) in measured sets (five/ten/hundred as capacity allows) and perform mantra-japa with honest intention, maintaining purity in bodily discipline and steady bhāvanā (contemplative focus on Śiva).