Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

शृङ्गारहारपुष्पैस्तु वर्द्धते सुख सम्पदा । ऋतुजातानि पुष्पाणि मुक्तिदानि न संशयः

Transliteration

śṛṅgārahārapuṣpaistu varddhate sukha sampadā | ṛtujātāni puṣpāṇi muktidāni na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

بتقديم الأزهار العطرة وأكاليل الزينة يزداد السرورُ والرخاء. وأما الأزهار التي تنبت في موسمها الحقّ، فإذا قُدِّمت في العبادة منحت الموكشا (التحرّر) — لا ريب في ذلك.

Word by Word

• śṛṅgāra-hāra-puṣpaiḥ: with flowers of garlands for adornment
• śṛṅgāra-hāra-puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅgāra + hāra + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śṛṅgārasya hāraḥ, tasya puṣpāṇi)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle (emphasis/contrast)

• varddhate: increases/grows
• varddhate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• sukha-sampadā: prosperity of happiness (happy fortune)
• sukha-sampadā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha + sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सुखरूपा सम्पत्)

• ṛtu-jātāni: season-born
• ṛtu-jātāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛtu + jāta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ṛtau jātāni = born in season)

• puṣpāṇi: flowers
• puṣpāṇi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• mukti-dāni: granting liberation
• mukti-dāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukti + dā (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातु-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (muktiṃ dadāti iti)

• na: not/no
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध/negation particle

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere, orderly devotion—symbolized by offering pure, seasonal flowers—brings both worldly well-being and, ultimately, Shiva’s grace leading to moksha.

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

Seasonal flowers and garlands are classic upacāras in Saguna Shiva worship, especially in Linga-puja; the verse affirms that such tangible offerings, when done with purity and rightness, become a means for receiving Shiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva puja with fresh, seasonally appropriate flowers and a garland, offering them with mantra-bhāva (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a mind oriented to purity and surrender.