Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा वचनं भक्त्या स्मृत्वा च गुरुपादके । बहिर्गच्छेद्दक्षिणाशां त्यागार्थं मलमूत्रयोः

Transliteration

ityuktvā vacanaṃ bhaktyā smṛtvā ca gurupādake | bahirgaccheddakṣiṇāśāṃ tyāgārthaṃ malamūtrayoḥ

Translation

Nachdem er so gesprochen hat und in Hingabe der Füße des Guru gedenkt, soll er nach draußen in südliche Richtung gehen, um Kot und Urin auszuscheiden.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle/इति-निपात)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac/√vad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having said)

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• smṛtvā: having remembered
• smṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having remembered)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• guru-pādake: at the guru’s feet
• guru-pādake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru-pādaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); ‘गुरोः पादकः/पादके’ (at the guru’s feet/footstool)

• bahis: outside
• bahis: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahis (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), बहिर्थ (outside)

• gacchet: should go
• gacchet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• dakṣiṇā-śām: the southern direction
• dakṣiṇā-śām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā-śā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• tyāga-artham: for the purpose of excretion/abandoning
• tyāga-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tyāga-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; प्रयोजनार्थक अव्यय (for the purpose of abandoning)

• mala-mūtrayoḥ: of feces and urine
• mala-mūtrayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala + mūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes śauca (outer purity) as a prerequisite for pūjā; supports eligibility (adhikāra) for Śiva-upāsanā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches Shaiva sadācāra: even ordinary bodily acts should be done with discipline and humility, beginning with devotion and remembrance of the Guru, so that outer cleanliness supports inner purity for Shiva-bhakti.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes śauca (purity) and reverence; by going outside and observing proper direction and decorum, the devotee maintains ritual cleanliness and a focused mind fit for Saguna Shiva worship and temple/home puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Before stepping out for elimination, mentally bow to the Guru’s feet (guru-smaraṇa) and follow cleanliness rules; afterward one should bathe/cleanse and resume japa or puja, aligning daily life with devotional discipline.