Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

तर्पयेदथ देवेभ्य ऋषिभिश्च विशेषतः । भूतेभ्यश्च पितृभ्यश्च दद्यादर्घ्यं यथाविधि

Transliteration

tarpayedatha devebhya ṛṣibhiśca viśeṣataḥ | bhūtebhyaśca pitṛbhyaśca dadyādarghyaṃ yathāvidhi

Translation

তাৰ পিছত বিধি অনুসাৰে দেৱতাসকলক আৰু বিশেষকৈ ঋষিসকলক তৰ্পণ কৰিব; লগতে ভূত-প্ৰাণী আৰু পিতৃসকলকো যথাবিধি অৰ্ঘ্য দান কৰিব।

Word by Word

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libations
• तर्पयेत्: क्रिया (injunctive/prescriptive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्पय् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध-निपात (discourse sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• देवेभ्यः: to the gods
• देवेभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन

• ऋषिभिः: with the sages
• ऋषिभिः: सह/करण (association/instrumental: along with sages)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: प्रकार (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विशेषणार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: especially)

• भूतेभ्यः: to beings/spirits
• भूतेभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• पितृभ्यः: to the ancestors (Pitṛs)
• पितृभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (prescriptive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (respectful offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• यथा: according to
• यथा: प्रकार (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (according to)

• विधि: rule, prescribed method
• विधि: कर्म (object of यथा; manner-expression)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ‘यथाविधि’ इति अव्ययीभावार्थे (as per rule)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga-specific passage; it prescribes ancillary offerings (tarpana/arghya) that ritually harmonize devas, ṛṣis, bhūtas, and pitṛs as part of Śiva-pūjā.

Significance: Frames Śiva-worship as inclusive of all cosmic orders; merit accrues by honoring devas/ṛṣis/pitṛs and reducing karmic obstacles before Śiva-upāsanā.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Rishis
• Bhutas
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva worship is not isolated devotion but a dharmic alignment: by offering tarpana and arghya to devas, rishis, beings, and pitrs, the practitioner purifies obligations (ṛṇa) and steadies the mind for Śiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

In Linga-worship, offerings are ideally accompanied by prescribed acts that integrate cosmic order—honoring devas and rishis who uphold ritual knowledge, and pitrs and beings who share one’s karmic field—so the devotee’s Saguna Śiva-pūjā becomes complete and unobstructed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tarpana (water-libations) and offer arghya as per vidhi, remembering Śiva as the inner witness; if done on Mahāśivarātri or during daily pūjā, it complements japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and supports purity of intention.