Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

मुखांतं च स्वसूत्रेण कृत्वा होमं समारभेत् । दशैकं वा शतैकं वा सहस्रैकमथापि वा

Transliteration

mukhāṃtaṃ ca svasūtreṇa kṛtvā homaṃ samārabhet | daśaikaṃ vā śataikaṃ vā sahasraikamathāpi vā

Translation

依自身所承之经轨（sūtra）将仪式安排至终段之后，应当开始护摩。火中供献（āhuti）可作十一遍，或一百零一遍，乃至一千零一遍。

Word by Word

• mukhāntam: up to the mouth/end at the mouth
• mukhāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: 'mouth' + 'end/limit' (i.e., up to the mouth)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• sva-sūtreṇa: with one’s own sacred thread
• sva-sūtreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: 'one's own' + 'thread/sacred thread'

• kṛtvā: having done/made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• homam: homa
• homam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• samārabhet: should begin
• samārabhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√rabh (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• daśa-ekam: eleven (times)
• daśa-ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + eka (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Dvigu numeral compound meaning 'eleven'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• śata-ekam: one hundred and one (times)
• śata-ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + eka (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; Dvigu meaning 'one hundred and one'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक)

• sahasra-ekam: one thousand and one (times)
• sahasra-ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + eka (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; Dvigu meaning 'one thousand and one'

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तरार्थक)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also/even)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, scripture-aligned worship: when the rite is properly concluded according to tradition, homa becomes a purifying act that supports devotion (bhakti) and inner clarity directed to Lord Shiva as Pati (the liberating Lord).

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

In Vidyeshvara teachings, Saguna Shiva is approached through structured upacharas (services) and ritual acts; homa functions as an extension of Linga-oriented worship where offerings and mantra are external supports for steady contemplation of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It prescribes beginning homa after completing the required preliminaries, with a counted series of oblations—11, 101, or 1001—typically aligned with mantra-japa (often the Panchakshara) to intensify focus and purification.