Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

पूजाविधिः

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

Devanagari script

यथावकाशं सुस्नायान्नद्यादिष्वथवा गृहे । देशकालाविरुद्धं च स्नानं कार्यं नरेण च

Transliteration

yathāvakāśaṃ susnāyānnadyādiṣvathavā gṛhe | deśakālāviruddhaṃ ca snānaṃ kāryaṃ nareṇa ca

Translation

Je nach Gelegenheit soll der Mensch sich gründlich baden—in Flüssen und anderen Gewässern oder auch zu Hause. Das Bad ist so zu vollziehen, dass es Ort und Zeit entspricht und ihnen nicht zuwiderläuft.

Word by Word

• यथा-अवकाशम्: as per convenience
• यथा-अवकाशम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + अवकाश (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः ‘अवकाशानुसारम्’ (according to opportunity)

• सु-स्नायात्: should bathe well
• सु-स्नायात्: Vidhi (विधि/injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग/उपपद ‘सु-’ (well); विधिलिङ्गार्थे आज्ञा

• नदी-आदिषु: in rivers and the like
• नदी-आदिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (नदी-शब्दप्रधान), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘नद्यादि’ = नदी आदि (rivers etc.)

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• गृहे: at home
• गृहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• देश-काल-अविरुद्धम्: not conflicting with place and time
• देश-काल-अविरुद्धम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + अविरुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; देशकालयोः अविरुद्धम् = not contrary to place and time

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: to be done
• कार्यम्: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव from √कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण ‘कर्तव्यम्’ (to be done)

• नरेण: by a man
• नरेण: Karta (कर्ता/agent, instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: also/and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms adaptable dharma (yathāvakāśa) while preserving ritual integrity: bathing in tīrthas is ideal, yet home-bathing is valid when aligned with deśa-kāla; encourages steady practice leading toward Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that external purity supports inner readiness for Shiva-bhakti: sincere purification is primary, and the practice should be adapted wisely to one’s circumstances without violating dharmic propriety.

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

Bathing is a preparatory act for Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the Linga with cleanliness and discipline. The verse emphasizes that proper intention and contextual appropriateness matter, not merely a rigid location.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform snāna as preparation for Shiva-pūjā and japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), choosing river-bath when possible or home-bath when needed, always in a way suitable to the time and place.