Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

मन्त्रसिद्धिः, प्रतिबन्धनिरासः, श्रद्धा-नियमाः

Mantra Efficacy, Removal of Obstacles, and the Role of Faith/Discipline

Devanagari script

इत्थमाचारवान्भूत्वा स्वानुकूले शुभे ऽहनि । पूर्वोक्तलक्षणे देशे पुष्पदामाद्यलंकृते

Transliteration

itthamācāravānbhūtvā svānukūle śubhe 'hani | pūrvoktalakṣaṇe deśe puṣpadāmādyalaṃkṛte

Translation

وهكذا، بعد أن يصير صاحبَ سلوكٍ منضبطٍ بالآداب القويمة، في يومٍ مُباركٍ ملائمٍ له، وفي موضعٍ تتوافر فيه الصفات المذكورة آنفًا ومُزيَّنٍ بأكاليل الزهور وسائر الزينة، فليُقِم العبادة على الوجه الصحيح.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आचारवान्: one possessing good conduct
• आचारवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचारवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• स्व-अनुकूले: in (a time) favorable to oneself
• स्व-अनुकूले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य अनुकूलः’)

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अहनि: on the day
• अहनि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पूर्व-उक्त-लक्षणे: in the place having the marks stated earlier
• पूर्व-उक्त-लक्षणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (निर्देश/विशेषण-समूह)

• देशे: in the place
• देशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पुष्प-दाम-आदि-अलंकृते: in (a place) adorned with flower-garlands and the like
• पुष्प-दाम-आदि-अलंकृते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + दाम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/निर्देश: ‘पुष्पदामादिभिः अलंकृतः’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General kṣetra-śuddhi and śubha-kāla: choosing auspicious time/place and decorating the worship area is a pan-Indian Śaiva temple/home-pūjā norm.

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 outer worship becomes fruitful when supported by inner discipline (ācāra): purity of conduct, auspicious intention, and a sanctified space oriented toward devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

It sets the preparatory framework for Saguna worship—choosing a proper, consecrated place and adorning it—so the devotee can approach the Linga with reverence, order, and devotional focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare for Shiva-puja by adopting disciplined conduct, selecting an auspicious time, and arranging a clean, decorated worship area; this supports steady dhyāna and mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during the rite.