Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

षडध्व-शुद्धिः

Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path

Devanagari script

यथावदवगम्यैव कुर्यादध्वविशोधनम् । कुंडमंडलपर्यंतं तत्र कृत्वा यथा पुरा

Transliteration

yathāvadavagamyaiva kuryādadhvaviśodhanam | kuṃḍamaṃḍalaparyaṃtaṃ tatra kṛtvā yathā purā

Translation

Nachdem man das Verfahren recht verstanden hat, soll man die Reinigung des rituellen Pfades (adhvan-śodhana) vollziehen. Man führe sie dort bis zur geweihten Feuergrube (kuṇḍa) und zum Ritual-Maṇḍala aus, wie es früher gemäß der begründeten Überlieferung getan wurde.

Word by Word

• यथावत्: properly, as prescribed
• यथावत्: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अवगम्य: having understood
• अवगम्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवगम् (धातु: अव+गम्)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अध्वविशोधनम्: purification of the path (adhvan)
• अध्वविशोधनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्व-विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुण्डमण्डलपर्यन्तम्: up to the kuṇḍa-maṇḍala
• कुण्डमण्डलपर्यन्तम्: Avadhi (अवधि/Limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुण्ड-मण्डल-पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial limit: 'up to')

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative/relative adverb)

• पुरा: formerly, before
• पुरा: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes disciplined purification—outer and inner—before worship. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, correct ritual order (kriyā) supports purification of the bound soul (paśu) and prepares the mind for Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).

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

Linga worship is traditionally accompanied by orderly preparatory acts—purifying the worship-sequence and sanctifying the space through the kuṇḍa (homa) and maṇḍala. This verse points to that structured approach, honoring established Shaiva tradition rather than improvisation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests adhvan-śodhana (purification of the ritual path), extending through preparation of the homa-kuṇḍa and drawing/consecrating the maṇḍala—typically supported by mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī) and focused attention to cleanse intention and environment.