Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49

आवरणपूजाविधानम् / The Procedure of Āvaraṇa (Enclosure) Worship

Devanagari script

न्यायार्जितैरपि द्रव्यैरभक्त्या पूजयेद्यदि । न तत्फलमवाप्नोति भक्तिरेवात्र कारणम्

Transliteration

nyāyārjitairapi dravyairabhaktyā pūjayedyadi | na tatphalamavāpnoti bhaktirevātra kāraṇam

Translation

ولو عُبد شيفا بأموالٍ اكتُسبت بالحقّ، فإن كان ذلك بلا بهاكتي (التعبّد المحبّ)، فلا ينال المرء ثمرته؛ إذ إن البهاكتي وحدها هنا هي السبب الحقّ.

Word by Word

• न्यायार्जितैः: with (things) acquired lawfully
• न्यायार्जितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्याय + अर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘द्रव्यैः’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (even/also)

• द्रव्यैः: with materials/wealth
• द्रव्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण (means)

• अभक्त्या: with non-devotion / without devotion
• अभक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण/भाव (by lack of devotion)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त (conditional particle: if)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘फलम्’)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्ता (subject)

• एव: alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (only/indeed)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: here/in this matter)

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes that inner bhakti (devotional orientation toward Pati) is the decisive factor for Śiva’s grace; external offerings without bhakti do not mature into liberating merit.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the decisive factor in Śiva-upāsanā is inner bhakti; external correctness and even ethically earned offerings cannot yield the highest fruit without heartfelt devotion.

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

Liṅga-pūjā is not validated by the price or purity of materials alone; the Liṅga, as Saguna focus for the devotee, responds to sincerity—devotion is what makes the worship spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform daily Śiva-pūjā with simple offerings while maintaining steady bhāva-bhakti—support it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and reverent application of bhasma (tripuṇḍra) as an aid to remembrance.