Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 32

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

स्नापयेत्कलशैः पूर्णैरष्टापदसमुद्भवैः । गंधद्रव्यैस्सकर्पूरैश्चन्दनाद्यैस्सकुंकुमैः

Transliteration

snāpayetkalaśaiḥ pūrṇairaṣṭāpadasamudbhavaiḥ | gaṃdhadravyaissakarpūraiścandanādyaissakuṃkumaiḥ

Translation

Man soll das heilige Liṅga Śivas mit gefüllten Krügen baden (abhiṣeka), die auf einem achtblättrigen Sockel (aṣṭāpada) stehen, und duftende Substanzen verwenden—zusammen mit Kampfer, Sandelholz und dergleichen sowie auch Safran—und so die reinigende Waschung für den Herrn Pati, den höchsten Meister und Spender der Befreiung, vollziehen.

Word by Word

• स्नापयेत्: should bathe / should cause to be bathed
• स्नापयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative)

• कलशैः: with pots
• कलशैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (plural)

• पूर्णैः: full
• पूर्णैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying) of कलशैः

• अष्टापद-समुद्भवैः: arisen from aṣṭāpada
• अष्टापद-समुद्भवैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टापद (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): अष्टापदात् समुद्भवाः = arising from aṣṭāpada (lotus/lotus-stand)

• गन्ध-द्रव्यैः: with fragrant substances
• गन्ध-द्रव्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे प्रचलितः: गन्धयुक्तानि द्रव्याणि

• स-कर्पूरैः: along with camphor
• स-कर्पूरैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-सम्भव (contextual), तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपसर्गसदृश ‘स’ = सह (with)

• चन्दन-आद्यैः: with sandalwood etc.
• चन्दन-आद्यैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-सम्भव, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘चन्दनादि’ = sandalwood and the like

• स-कुङ्कुमैः: along with saffron/vermilion
• स-कुङ्कुमैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘स’ = सह (with)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that loving, orderly abhiṣeka (ritual bathing) with pure, fragrant offerings refines the devotee’s intention and supports devotion to Saguna Śiva, through whom grace (anugraha) leads the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

The verse is a direct instruction for Liṅga-pūjā: bathing the emblem with filled kalaśas and auspicious fragrances is a classical Saguna mode of approaching Śiva, honoring His immanent presence and inviting His compassionate accessibility.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform kalaśābhiṣeka using scented substances (camphor, sandal paste, kuṅkuma), ideally while mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” keeping the mind steady in reverence during each offering.