Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

ततो व्यासेन वै श्रुत्वा शिवपूजादिकं च यत् । मह्यं च पाठितं तेन लोकानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

tato vyāsena vai śrutvā śivapūjādikaṃ ca yat | mahyaṃ ca pāṭhitaṃ tena lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

Daraufhin, nachdem ich wahrlich von Vyāsa alles über die Verehrung Śivas und die damit verbundenen Observanzen vernommen hatte, wurde auch ich von ihm unterwiesen, da er das Wohl aller Wesen begehrte.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे/अनन्तरम् (thereafter/from that)

• व्यासेन: by Vyāsa
• व्यासेन: Karana (करण/instrument/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

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

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• शिव-पूजा-आदिकम्: Śiva-worship and related matters
• शिव-पूजा-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म/object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; ‘आदि’ समाहारार्थे (etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी; एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• पाठितम्: was recited/taught
• पाठितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) → पाठित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण/agent in passive: ‘by him’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया; एकवचन

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/of people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/for/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचन

• हित-काम्यया: with the desire for their welfare
• हित-काम्यया: Hetu (हेतु/motive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (instrumental of motive: ‘with the desire for welfare’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva-pūjā as universal welfare-teaching (lokānāṃ hita), implying that hearing/learning proper worship is itself a meritorious sādhana leading to dharma, artha, kāma, and ultimately Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the guru-paramparā: sacred knowledge of Śiva-pūjā is preserved and transmitted for loka-hita (the welfare of all), indicating that devotion and correct practice are meant to uplift the entire world toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.

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

By mentioning “śiva-pūjā-ādikam,” the verse points to structured, teachable worship—commonly expressed through Saguna upāsanā such as Liṅga-pūjā—through which devotees approach Śiva and receive his anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies disciplined Śiva-pūjā learned from a competent teacher—typically including mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with associated observances that support steady bhakti.