Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 78

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

शत्रूणां तापनार्थं वै तैलधारा शिवोपरि । कर्तव्या सुप्रयत्नेन कार्यसिद्धिर्धुवं भवेत्

Transliteration

śatrūṇāṃ tāpanārthaṃ vai tailadhārā śivopari | kartavyā suprayatnena kāryasiddhirdhuvaṃ bhavet

Translation

শত্রুদের দমনার্থে শিবলিঙ্গের উপর তেলের অবিচ্ছিন্ন ধারা অতি যত্নে করা উচিত; তাতে অভিপ্রেত কার্যসিদ্ধি নিশ্চয় হয়।

Word by Word

• śatrūṇām: of enemies
• śatrūṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• tāpana-artham: for the purpose of afflicting
• tāpana-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpana (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (तापनस्य अर्थः = purpose of tormenting)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (emphatic particle)

• taila-dhārā: a stream/pouring of oil
• taila-dhārā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (तैलस्य धारा)

• śiva-upari: upon Shiva
• śiva-upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय ‘उपरि’ प्रधानम्; अर्थः ‘शिवस्य उपरि/शिवे’ (upon Shiva/over Shiva)

• kartavyā: should be performed
• kartavyā: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय, gerundive/obligatory); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘tailadhārā’ इति विशेष्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be done)

• su-prayatnena: with great effort
• su-prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु-प्रयत्नः = great effort)

• kārya-siddhiḥ: accomplishment of the task
• kārya-siddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (कार्यस्य सिद्धिः)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (certainly)

• bhavet: would occur/be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Presents a protective/controlling rite: oil-dhārā on the liṅga to subdue hostile forces (outer enemies or inner adversities), promising kārya-siddhi through disciplined worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that focused, disciplined worship of Śiva through abhiṣeka channels intention into a sacred act, subduing hostile forces (outer enemies and inner passions) and bringing assured fruition through devotion and right performance.

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

The instruction is explicitly ritual: offering a continuous oil-stream upon Śiva ‘above’—understood as the Śiva-liṅga—honoring Saguna Śiva as the accessible form through which grace operates and obstacles are pacified.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Tailadhārā abhiṣeka—pouring a steady stream of oil on the Śiva-liṅga with attentive effort—ideally supported by japa such as the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize mind and intention.