Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

गणेशाभिषेक-वरदान-विधानम् | Gaṇeśa’s Consecration, Boons, and Prescribed Worship

Devanagari script

दूर्वाभिः पूजनं कार्यमुपवासस्तथाविधः । रात्रेश्च प्रहरे जाते स्नात्वा संपूजयेन्नरः

Transliteration

dūrvābhiḥ pūjanaṃ kāryamupavāsastathāvidhaḥ | rātreśca prahare jāte snātvā saṃpūjayennaraḥ

Translation

Die Verehrung ist mit Dūrvā-Gras zu vollziehen, zusammen mit dem vorgeschriebenen Fasten (Upavāsa). Und wenn die Nachtwache anbricht, soll der Mensch baden und dann Śiva in voller Ehrfurcht verehren.

Word by Word

• दूर्वाभिः: with dūrvā grass
• दूर्वाभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; nominal predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective): “to be done”

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also)

• विधः: of that kind / as prescribed
• विधः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying उपवासः)

• रात्रेः: of the night
• रात्रेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

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

• प्रहरे: in a watch (of the night)
• प्रहरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• जाते: when (the watch) has arrived
• जाते: Sati-saptami (सति-सप्तमी/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): “when it has come/occurred”

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): “having bathed”

• संपूजयेत्: should worship fully
• संपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic instruction to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Specifies vrata markers—upavāsa and timed night worship—framing devotion as disciplined self-offering that attracts Śiva’s grace and weakens pāśa (karmic bonds).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Śiva is strengthened through disciplined vrata—offering (dūrvā), fasting, purity through bathing, and vigilant night worship—so the mind becomes fit for Śiva-bhakti and grace.

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

The instruction is a practical regimen for Saguna worship—external pūjā with offerings and ritual purity—by which the devotee approaches the Liṅga/Śiva with concentrated reverence, preparing for deeper inner contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a vrata with upavāsa (fasting), keep the night vigil, bathe at the proper night-watch, and then do full Śiva-pūjā; this pairs well with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during the vigil.