Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship

Devanagari script

शिवनिर्माल्यभोक्तारश्शिवनिर्म्माल्यलंघकाः । शिवनिर्माल्यदातारः स्पर्शस्तेषां ह्यपुण्यकृत्

Transliteration

śivanirmālyabhoktāraśśivanirmmālyalaṃghakāḥ | śivanirmālyadātāraḥ sparśasteṣāṃ hyapuṇyakṛt

Translation

Wer das Nirmālya Śivas verzehrt, wer seine Heiligkeit missachtet oder übertritt, und wer Śivas Nirmālya weitergibt—die Berührung mit solchen Menschen ist wahrlich Ursache von Unverdienst.

Word by Word

• शिवनिर्माल्यभोक्तारः: those who consume Śiva’s nirmālya
• शिवनिर्माल्यभोक्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + निर्माल्य + भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य निर्माल्यं भोक्तारः = eaters/consumers of Śiva’s nirmālya)

• शिवनिर्माल्यलंघकाः: those who disrespect/transgress Śiva’s nirmālya
• शिवनिर्माल्यलंघकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + निर्माल्य + लंघक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवनिर्माल्यस्य लंघकाः = transgressors of Śiva’s nirmālya)

• शिवनिर्माल्यदातारः: those who give Śiva’s nirmālya
• शिवनिर्माल्यदातारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + निर्माल्य + दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवनिर्माल्यस्य दातारः = givers/distributors of Śiva’s nirmālya)

• स्पर्शः: touch, contact
• स्पर्शः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: emphasis/indeed)

• अपुण्यकृत्: producing demerit (sin-causing)
• अपुण्यकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + पुण्य + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अपुण्यं करोति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s worship is not merely external; reverence for what has been ritually dedicated to Śiva (nirmālya) reflects inner bhakti and discipline. Disrespect toward such sacred remnants is treated as a spiritual fault that obstructs purity of mind.

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

In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, offerings become sanctified through dedication to Śiva. This verse emphasizes careful handling of those offerings and warns against treating Śiva’s consecrated items as ordinary objects, reinforcing the sanctity of Liṅga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain disciplined conduct in Śiva-pūjā: treat nirmālya with reverence, avoid improper consumption or casual distribution, and keep devotional purity (śauca) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra and observing temple etiquette.