Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

मृत्युञ्जय-विद्या-प्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation/Transmission of the Mṛtyuñjaya Vidyā

Devanagari script

तुलसीदेवगंधारीबृहत्पत्रीकुशांकुरैः । नद्यावर्तैरगस्त्यैश्च सशालैर्देवदारुभिः

Transliteration

tulasīdevagaṃdhārībṛhatpatrīkuśāṃkuraiḥ | nadyāvartairagastyaiśca saśālairdevadārubhiḥ

Translation

Sie brachten auch Tulasī dar, die duftende Gandhārī, heiliges großblättriges Laub und zarte Kuśa-Sprosse; Nadyāvarta- und Agastya-Blüten; dazu Śāla-Blätter und Deodāra (Zedernholz) als Gabe—und sammelten so glückverheißende Mittel zur Besänftigung des Herrn.

Word by Word

• तुलसी-देवगन्धारी-बृहत्पत्री-कुश-अङ्कुरैः: with tulasī, devagandhārī, bṛhatpatrī, and kuśa sprouts
• तुलसी-देवगन्धारी-बृहत्पत्री-कुश-अङ्कुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक) + देवगन्धारी (प्रातिपदिक) + बृहत्पत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; list-compound of offerings

• नद्यावर्तैः: with nadyāvarta (flowers/plant)
• नद्यावर्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नद्यावर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• अगस्त्यैः: with agastya (flowers/plant)
• अगस्त्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• स-शालैः: together with śāla (flowers/trees)
• स-शालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; 'स-' = 'along with' (सह) as prefixal usage

• देवदारुभिः: with deodar (devadāru)
• देवदारुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General worship-material enumeration; inclusion of kuśa and devadāru evokes broader Vedic-Āgamic ritual continuity rather than a localized sthala-māhātmya.

Significance: Highlights ‘śuddhi’ (purificatory) materials—kuśa, sacred leaves, fragrant woods—supporting the devotee’s transition from pasha-boundness toward grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sincere bhakti is expressed through śuddha (pure) and maṅgala (auspicious) upacāras—natural offerings that discipline the mind, cultivate reverence, and turn the devotee toward Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord.

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

These are standard pūjā-dravyas for Saguna worship—offering leaves, flowers, and fragrant items to the Liṅga as a visible focus, while internally remembering Śiva as the indwelling consciousness beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Collect and offer auspicious leaves/flowers with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—maintaining purity, steadiness, and one-pointed devotion during Liṅga-pūjā.