Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels

Devanagari script

रत्नानि रजतं हेम गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादयः । फलपल्लवदर्भांश्च पुण्यद्रव्याण्यनेकधा

Transliteration

ratnāni rajataṃ hema gandhapuṣpākṣatādayaḥ | phalapallavadarbhāṃśca puṇyadravyāṇyanekadhā

Translation

الجواهر والفضّة والذهب؛ والمواد العطرة، والزهور، وحبّات الأرز غير المكسورة (akṣata) وما شابه؛ والثمار، والأوراق الغضّة، وأعواد عشب الدَّرْبْهَا (darbha)—فهذه أصناف كثيرة من المواد المباركة الصالحة للعبادة.

Word by Word

• रत्नानि: gems
• रत्नानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• रजतम्: silver
• रजतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हेम: gold
• हेम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गन्ध-पुष्प-अक्षत-आदयः: fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice, etc.
• गन्ध-पुष्प-अक्षत-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (गन्धाश्च पुष्पाणि च अक्षताश्च इत्यादयः)

• फल-पल्लव-दर्भान्: fruits, sprouts/leaves, and darbha-grass
• फल-पल्लव-दर्भान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + पल्लव (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

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

• पुण्य-द्रव्याणि: sacred substances
• पुण्य-द्रव्याणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (पुण्यानि द्रव्याणि)

• अनेकधा: in many kinds/variously
• अनेकधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in many ways/kinds)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion (bhakti) is expressed through pure, auspicious substances offered in worship, aligning outer ritual with inner reverence toward Pati (Shiva), the bestower of grace.

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

These items are standard upacāras (worship-offerings) presented to the Shiva Linga—an accessible Saguna form through which the devotee approaches the transcendent Nirguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Linga-puja with clean offerings such as flowers, akṣata, fruits, leaves, and darbha, while maintaining mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara) and a focused, sattvic mind.