Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

धान्यमानमिति प्रोक्तं मया ते मुनिसत्तम । लक्षमानं तु पुष्पाणां शृणु प्रीत्या मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

dhānyamānamiti proktaṃ mayā te munisattama | lakṣamānaṃ tu puṣpāṇāṃ śṛṇu prītyā munīśvara

Translation

„So habe ich dir, o Bester der Weisen, das Maß namens ‘dhānya-māna’ (Getreidemaß) erklärt. Nun, o Herr unter den Munis, höre mit freudiger Aufmerksamkeit, während ich das ‘lakṣa-māna’ beschreibe—das Maß, das für Blumen verwendet wird.“

Word by Word

• dhānyamānam: the measure called ‘dhānya-māna’
• dhānyamānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānyamāna (प्रातिपदिक; māna-शब्द)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (contextually: द्वितीया एकवचन as object of ‘proktam’)

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

• proktam: has been stated
• proktam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग), क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः—‘(it) has been said’

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष सर्वनाम, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी एकवचन (dative)

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (munīnām sattamaḥ)

• lakṣamānam: the ‘lakṣa’ measure
• lakṣamānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣamāna (प्रातिपदिक; māna-शब्द)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (object of ‘śṛṇu’)

• tu: but/and now
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle)

• puṣpāṇām: of flowers
• puṣpāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (genitive)

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• prītyā: with pleasure / gladly
• prītyā: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental; adverbial sense)

• muni-īśvara: O lord of sages
• muni-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (munīnām īśvaraḥ)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes disciplined, attentive worship: devotion (bhakti) is supported by right order and clarity in ritual offerings, reflecting the Shaiva view that sincere practice and proper method together purify the devotee.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-puja—offerings like grains and flowers are central. This passage frames the practical standards (māna, “measure”) so the devotee’s offerings are consistent and respectful, aiding focused reverence toward Shiva’s manifest form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests careful, attentive puja—measuring offerings properly (especially flowers) and listening to scriptural guidance with prīti (joyful devotion), which can be paired with mantra-japa such as the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during offerings.