Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

वेदमंत्रैः षडंगैर्वा नामभी रुद्रसंख्यया । यथावकाशं तां दत्वा वस्त्रेण मार्जयेत्ततः

Transliteration

vedamaṃtraiḥ ṣaḍaṃgairvā nāmabhī rudrasaṃkhyayā | yathāvakāśaṃ tāṃ datvā vastreṇa mārjayettataḥ

Translation

بمناجاةِ الفيدا، أو بمناجاةِ الأعضاء الستّة (ṣaḍaṅga)، أو بتلاوةِ أسماءِ رودرا بالعدد المقرَّر، تُقدَّم تلك المياه المُقدِّسة على قدر الموضع. ثم بعد ذلك يُمسَح (المعبود أو موضع العبادة) بقطعة قماش.

Word by Word

• वेद-मन्त्रैः: with Vedic mantras
• वेद-मन्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: वेदानां मन्त्राः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• षडङ्गैः: with the six auxiliaries (ṣaḍaṅga)
• षडङ्गैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड् (संख्या) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षड् अङ्गानि यस्य/षडङ्ग (द्विगु); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग-प्रयोग; तृतीया, बहुवचन

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

• नामभिः: with (the) names
• नामभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• रुद्र-संख्यया: by the Rudra-number (i.e., 11)
• रुद्र-संख्यया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: रुद्राणां संख्या/रुद्र-संख्या (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• यथा-अवकाशम्: as per opportunity; suitably
• यथा-अवकाशम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + अवकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव: यथा + अवकाशम्; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial)

• ताम्: her/that (offering)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाल (having given)

• वस्त्रेण: with a cloth
• वस्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मार्जयेत्: should wipe/clean
• मार्जयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रम-अव्यय (then; thereafter)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the ritual teaching within Rudra Saṃhitā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer purity supports inner reverence: sanctifying acts done with mantra (Vedic, ṣaḍaṅga, or Rudra-nāmas) prepare the worshipper and the worship-space so devotion becomes steady and sattvic—fit for approaching Pati (Śiva).

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

In Saguna worship, the Liṅga is approached through orderly upacāras. This verse highlights a practical step—mantra-sanctified offering and then wiping/cleaning—showing that Liṅga-pūjā joins mantra, ritual correctness, and respectful care of the sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform purification/ablution using Vedic or ṣaḍaṅga mantras, or recite Rudra’s names in a prescribed count while offering water; then dry or clean the area/object with a clean cloth, maintaining attentiveness and mantra-focused mind.