Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

मुखवासादिकं दत्त्वा ताम्बूलं सोपदंशकम् । अलंकृत्य च भूयो ऽपि नानापुष्पविभूषणैः

Transliteration

mukhavāsādikaṃ dattvā tāmbūlaṃ sopadaṃśakam | alaṃkṛtya ca bhūyo 'pi nānāpuṣpavibhūṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

Nachdem er Munddüfte und dergleichen dargebracht und sodann Tāmbūla (Betelblatt) mit Gewürzen bereitet geopfert hatte, schmückte er den Verehrungswürdigen erneut mit Zieraten und Schmuck aus vielerlei Blumen.

Word by Word

• mukha-vāsa-ādikam: mouth-perfume etc.
• mukha-vāsa-ādikam: Karma (कर्म—object of dattvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha + vāsa + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'etc. beginning with mouth-perfume'

• dत्त्वा: having given
• dत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त—अव्ययकृदन्त), 'having given'

• tāmbūlam: betel (leaf preparation)
• tāmbūlam: Karma (कर्म—object, implied to offer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmbūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-upadaṃśakam: with a side-bite/condiment
• sa-upadaṃśakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + upadaṃśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa with सह/स-: 'with a bite/side-dish' qualifying tāmbūlam

• alaṃkṛtya: having adorned
• alaṃkṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: alaṃkṛ (अलंकृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त—अव्ययकृदन्त), 'having adorned'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• bhūyaḥ: again, further
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): repetition/intensity

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha/Anvaya (अन्वय—particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• nānā-puṣpa-vibhūṣaṇaiḥ: with ornaments of various flowers
• nānā-puṣpa-vibhūṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण—means of adorning)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā + puṣpa + vibhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'ornaments (made) of various flowers'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse belongs to a general pūjā-krama (sequence of services) where the Lord is treated as the supreme royal guest (atithi) and inner ruler (antaryāmin).

Significance: Models the complete upacāra-pūjā; offering fragrant mouth-perfumes and tāmbūla is counted among refined services that cultivate śuddhi (purity), bhakti, and īśvara-prasāda.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through upacāras (reverent services): offering fragrance, tāmbūla, and flower-adornment trains the mind toward purity and single-pointed devotion to Pati (Shiva), helping the bound soul (paśu) loosen the bonds (pāśa) through loving worship.

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

These are classical pūjā offerings commonly made to Saguna Shiva and the Shiva-Linga—decorating with flowers and presenting tāmbūla after honoring the deity—affirming that tangible, reverent acts can support inner contemplation of Shiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva pūjā with sequential upacāras: offer pleasant fragrance, then tāmbūla with condiments, and adorn with fresh flowers—while mentally maintaining devotion and, if practiced, softly repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”